Arrest follows Coromandel manhunt

 

Waikato Police who spent a hot day in rugged terrain seeking a potentially armed gang member in the Coromandel say the man’s apprehension was due to a combination of good police work and assistance from the public.   Shift Manager, Senior Sergeant Juliet Burgess, of the Waikato District Command Centre said officers assisted by the Armed Offenders Squad went to a Hikuai property searching for the 37-year-old.    “Information had been received in relation to the man being in possession of a firearm however the man had fled shortly before Police arrived and officers began searching the greater Coromandel for him and his black Ford Falcon car.   “We believe the man may have crashed his vehicle owing to a number of calls received from members of the public who described a person matching the fugitive’s description being seen on SH25 acting suspiciously who had a large cut to his head.”   Mrs Burgess said the man was seen emerging injured from a creek bed wearing a blue singlet and shorts with a back pack over his shoulder by a member of the public who gave the man a ride back to Hikuai shortly before noon.   “Later in the afternoon Police identified where they thought the man might be and again established a number of cordons. The man offender was located after another car leaving the area was stopped by armed Police and he was taken into custody.   “An aerial search is currently underway by the Auckland based Police Eagle helicopter to try and locate the man’s black Ford Falcon that Police suspect was crashed earlier in the day. Police staff involved in the incident wished to acknowledge the assistance provided by local residents which they say played a big part in successfully locating the offender.”   End