Tear gas used to get wanted man out of ceiling

Police at the scene of an incident involving the police armed offenders squad on Auckland's North Shore today. Photo / NZPA/David Rowland.

Armed police today used tear gas to get a wanted man out of a house on Auckland's North Shore, where he had barricaded himself in the ceiling.

The 48-year-old was wanted by police for failing to appear in court, and they also wanted to interview him about other serious matters, police spokesman Kevin Loughlin said.

They went to the address in Birkdale Rd, Birkdale, about 10.15am and found five other people at the house, two of whom were arrested for breach of bail.

The wanted man refused to come out of the house and barricaded himself in the ceiling.

A police cordon was set up and three nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution.

The armed offenders squad spent more than an hour negotiating with the man before using tear gas to subdue him.

They found him in the ceiling cavity and arrested him. He was not injured, Mr Loughlin said.

There was no risk to the public during the operation and no firearms were used, he said.

The man will appear in North Shore District Court tomorrow charged with failing to appear in court but police had not ruled out more serious charges.

- NZPA