Please attribute to Waikato District Commander Superintendent Bruce Bird:
Rollie Heke has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after he was arrested early this morning at an address in the Kaingaroa Forest township.
The 37-year-old also faces charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, failing to stop and possession of equipment to manufacture methamphetamine. He is due to appear in Rotorua District Court this afternoon.
This morning Police have also arrested and charged five more people in relation to the operation to locate Rollie Heke.
Heke’s associate, 43-year-old Irene Scanlon, was taken into custody on her warrant to arrest when Police executed a search warrant in Te Awamutu this morning.
She will appear on her outstanding warrant in Hamilton District Court this afternoon or tomorrow.
In addition to this, a 32 year-old-man and three women aged 62, 43 and 29, have all been charged with being an accessory after the fact and were set to appear in Rotorua District Court today.
Police would like to thank members of the public for the information they have provided during this operation. It has been of great assistance.
As the matter is now before the courts, Police is not in a position to comment further.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre
