Police Firearms Incident - Man Injured

A man has been injured in a firearms incident in the West Auckland suburb of New Lynn.

Waitakere Police went to the Nikau Street address soon after 6.00pm Sunday 18 July 2010 to apprehend a 38 year old male who was wanted for an alleged arson.

Several of the officers were armed. On their arrival at a caravan located beside the address the man has confronted police. A brief verbal altercation has occurred. A police taser was fired by one of the officers but was not effective.

The man has then produced a firearm resulting in two officers discharging their weapons. The man has suffered injuries consistent with wounding by a firearm. The injuries are not life threatening. He’s in hospital where his condition is described as stable.

Police will remain at the cordoned scene overnight. The IPCA has been informed of the incident and a police investigation will be carried out.

Superintendent Bill Searle, District Commander Waitematä Police, says he is relieved that no police officers were hurt or injured in this incident.

“The officers however are shaken by their experience,” he said

The man has been arrested for assault and a police guard is deployed at the hospital.