Runaway 'P cook' arrested at gunpoint

An alleged P cook who has been on the run for nearly six months has been captured by police at gunpoint.

Acting on a tip, police followed Lee Richard Oswald Bell in a 2000 silver Mercedes Benz to a Pakuranga house on Thursday night where he was arrested by armed police.

Detectives from the North Shore investigated Bell's alleged actions, however a court order prevents the Weekend Herald from reporting details of the arrest.

Officers were delighted to have Bell back behind bars.

"It's a good result," Detective Sergeant James Watson said yesterday.

Mr Watson said police had been chasing Bell for about a month after information received from members of the public who had seen his photo on television and in the Herald.

Bell told Justice Lyn Stevens he was not seeking bail. The judge remanded him in custody by consent until August 12.

Bell, 41, fled the High Court at Auckland in early February after a judge refused him bail. He was due to stand trial on drugs and firearms charges in March.

During the raid that led to his first arrest, police seized P worth $77,000, $46,000 in cash and 2kg of cold-medicine tablets.

After escaping, he went straight to the SkyCity Casino in a taxi. After being approached by security staff, he fled leaving $5800 in a poker machine.

- additional reporting Beck Vass