A man wielding a sawn-off shotgun in Corstorphine, a high-speed pursuit in Kaikorai Valley and a steady stream of domestic violence kept Dunedin police busy on Thursday night.
Sergeant John Hedges, of Dunedin, said the Armed Offenders Squad (AOS) was deployed to Clermiston Ave, Corstorphine after a man threatened another person with a sawn-off shotgun.
A woman living nearby, who requested anonymity, said she was woken from a deep sleep on the hot night about 4am to the sounds of an officer announcing the AOS had arrived and demanding the residents of the neighbouring home come out with their hands up. She saw a heavy armed police presence and dog units and decided to stay inside.
"I try not to get too involved in the politics of this street ..."
A "nutty girl" living nearby had last year made several false calls to police resulting in AOS callouts, she said.
"I feel sorry for the police actually. They do a bloody good job."
A 28-year-old man was arrested after the incident and today faces a charge of contravening a protection order.
Down the road in Kaikorai Valley, a Subaru Impreza was seen running a red light and failed to stop for police. Sgt Hedges said the pursuit was abandoned due to the Impreza’s high speeds as it travelled south through Green Island. Officers were not able to record a registration but were hoping to find the plate number from speed cameras.
Dunedin police attended about six domestic violence incidents on Thursday night.
Sgt Hedges said 29 domestic violence incidents were recorded over the weekend and police attended six to seven more each weekday night, meaning about 50 were now on the books in Dunedin from this week alone.
• Dunedin police (03) 471-4800, Crimestoppers 0800-555-111.
