A man who allegedly aimed a firearm at police and stole a patrol car appeared in court yesterday and will remain behind bars.
Jesse Daniel Nash - who was the subject of a 16-hour manhunt on Saturday and Sunday - did not apply for bail yesterday.
The 38-year-old was charged with using a firearm against police and two counts of dishonestly taking a vehicle, one of which was a $30,000 police car, according to court documents.
Nash was remanded in custody by consent and will appear in the Dunedin District Court next month.
Police said the defendant failed to stop for an officer at 6.30pm on Saturday before a pursuit was initiated.
When Nash stopped in Cromwell, he allegedly pointed a gun at police, took the officer's car and set off towards Alexandra.
It is then alleged he ditched the patrol vehicle and took another car from a member of the public.
Acting southern district commander Acting Superintendent Darryl Sweeney said officers from Dunedin and Queenstown assisted in the search for Nash, as well as two helicopters and armed offenders squad members.
The car the defendant was driving was later found abandoned in Milton, he said.
Acting on a tip from the public, police said, they surrounded a nearby home at 10am on Sunday and Nash was arrested.
Police confirmed no police-issued firearms had been used or were unaccounted for.
The charge of using a firearm against police carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment.
It is expected more charges will be laid.
