Firearm pointed at Police Officer

A 19 year old Alexandra man is in custody following an incident in Alexandra on Friday 16 January 2009 where a firearm was pointed at a Police officer.

Two Police staff were called to an Earnscleugh Road address about 9.40pm following reports of a man threatening to self harm.

Upon entering the address an officer was confronted by an agitated male who pointed a firearm at him while demanding he leave. The officer retreated but kept speaking to the man and convinced him to put down the firearm so he could be taken in to custody.

The man was arrested but remained aggressive.

Several threats were made by the male to deliberately harm both the officers and their families.

'I find it disturbing that specific threats have been made against an officer's family' Sergeant Ian KERRISK said. 'As Police officers we accept that in some situations we will be abused while doing our job but threats toward our families is a serious concern.'

Inquiries have also established that a 16 year old female at the address had been assaulted prior to Police arrival. She is known to the male.

The firearm presented has been recovered by Police and has been confirmed to be an air rifle.
Sergeant Ian KERRISK said 'the fact that this was an air rifle rather than a larger calibre firearm made little difference to the officer when it was presented at him. Barrel's all look the same when you're looking at the wrong end of a firearm. Air rifles can be just as capable of killing or injuring people....'

The man appeared in the Dunedin District Court on Saturday morning and has been remanded in custody to reappear on Tuesday 18 January 2009.

He faces charges of Male Assaults Female, Presenting a Firearm at Police, Threatening to Kill and Threatening Grievous Bodily Harm.

The Police officers were both uninjured and continued working their rostered shift.
The female received some bruising but did not require medical treatment.'