Man and Woman at Centre of Pursuit Face Charges

The 25-year-old man and 20-year old woman involved in yesterday's incident near Palmerston will face a number of charges this afternoon in the Oamaru District Court.

Police have laid charges against both of them. They are jointly charged with six charges of using a firearm against police, a charge of theft of a motor vehicle, and a charge of failing to stop for police.

They are from Palmerston North.

Officer in charge of the case, Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder, said he anticipated a large number of additional charges would also be laid in relation to yesterday's incident and in relation to the couple's behaviour in the days leading up to the incident.

Detective Sergeant Ryder said he would be seeking name suppression of the six officers against whom police alleged a gun was used during the incident.

Detective Sergeant Ryder said police would also like to speak to the people who were travelling in two vehicles which were stopped by police at Mount Royal Hill, 1km south of Palmerston yesterday afternoon.

The vehicles were stationery facing south at the side of the road when the stolen Landrover the couple were travelling in was heading north and when a firearm was presented to police at the side of the road.

The people in the vehicles could contact the Oamaru Police station in the first instance, Detective Sergeant Ryder said.