Nine Alexandra police - some of them armed - sealed off a rural property near the town yesterday afternoon.
Sergeant Ian Kerrisk said police were called to a property on the outskirts of Alexandra at 2pm. They had been told two people were arguing and one of them was believed to be armed.
The property was cordoned off by police and after about 20 minutes, a man was called out.
Police found the man was unarmed.
"In this instance, a firearm wasn't involved after all, but in any incident where we believe a person is armed, we will send in an armed response," Sgt Kerrisk told the Otago Daily Times.
"We have to be aware of the potential danger to the public and to the people at the address and to police - especially considering recent events up north - and safety must remain our priority.
"We respond, believing the worst case scenario."
The incident was resolved quickly and the armed offenders squad was not called out, he said.
A 48-year-old Alexandra man was later arrested and charged with using threatening language likely to cause violence. He was remanded and bailed to appear in the Alexandra District Court next week.
