Police investigating a series of incidents in Levin and Foxton in the lead up to the tangi of Nomad gang leader Dennis Hines have today arrested and charged seven men.
The team of officers have been investigating five incidents in total that are all believed linked to an internal conflict which emerged within the Nomad gang following the death of Hines who was the gang's founder in Horowhenua and Otaki.
On Sunday, 7 June, at approximately 10am, a group of men attended an address in Awatea Street in Levin where a serious assault took place. The assault victim, a 35-year-old man from Levin was taken to Palmerston North Hospital by ambulance but discharged himself prior to receiving treatment.
On Sunday, 7 June, at approximately 11pm, a group of men attended another address in Levin. There was an altercation at this addressing which resulted in a shotgun being presented and several shots been discharged. No injuries were received as a result of the shots being fired, but at the same time a 28-year-old man from Levin received head injuries from an assault and was taken ambulance to Palmerston North Hospital.
On Wednesday, 10 June at the Motuiti Marae, Foxton a 31-year-old man from Levin was assaulted and locked in the boot of a car for a short time. The victim of that assault was taken to Palmerston North Hospital.
On Thursday, 11 June, also at the Motuiti Marae, a 25-year-old relative of Dennis Hines from Foxton was shot in the leg and hand with a shotgun. He was flown to Palmerston North Hospital and later transferred to Hutt Hospital.
On the evening of Monday, 15 June a house in Kinross Street, Levin, was burgled. A short time later the house was set on fire and destroyed.
Today three men aged 23, 28 and 31 from Levin, along with a 19-year-old man from Shannon and a 25-year-old man from Foxton, have all been charged with injuring with intent. The charges relate to the assault on the morning of Sunday, 7 June.
One man aged 42 from Levin has been charged with discharging a firearm with intent, which relates to the incident on the evening of Sunday 7 June. He has also been charged with receiving stolen goods from the burglary at Kinross Street on Monday, 15 June, which occurred immediately before the arson.
One man aged 34 from Levin has been charged with receiving stolen goods from the burglary at Kinross Street on Monday, 15 June, which occurred immediately before the arson.
Six of the men of the men were arrested earlier today in Levin and Shannon and will appear at Levin District Court this afternoon, court time permitting. One of the men charged with injuring with intent to injure was arrested elsewhere on the north island. The location of his arrest and the location of the court in which he will be appearing cannot be disclosed for security reasons.
There have been no arrests at this stage in relation to either the assault on the marae (10 June) or the shooting on the day of Hines' tangi (11 June).
Detective Senior Sergeant Marc Hercock said: "These arrests are the culmination of an extensive investigation and there are likely to be more to follow. Although no-one has yet been arrested in relation the shooting and the assault on the marae we are following up on a number of strong leads so the investigation is far from over and we still want information from the public."
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 06 351 2546 or 027 234 8256.