A 20-year-old man has been arrested after a rifle was pointed at a female police officer in Katikati early today.
Police said the constable had been responding to a report of suspicious activity and was leaving the home of a witness about 2.30am when she spotted a man.
When she stopped to speak to him he dropped bags he was carrying and allegedly swung a rifle toward her, police said.
The officer called for back-up and the armed offenders squad was called out.
'A bag containing a rifle and ammunition was located and a short time later a man who emerged from a nearby address was arrested without incident."
Police said the accused would appear at Tauranga District Court later today charged with burglary, unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, using a firearm against a law enforcement officer and unlawful taking of a vehicle.
