Armed police descended on Dunedin streets yesterday as they responded to two separate events, amid a recent string of firearm incidents in the city.
A police spokeswoman said a 27-year-old man was arrested and an air rifle seized after an incident in Heriot Row, while a 38-year-old man was arrested following reports of a man allegedly presenting a firearm at someone in North East Valley.
Five armed officers entered a property in Heriot Row about 11.15am and a man was led away.
Police responded after receiving a report of a "potential firearms incident" in Heriot Row about 10.10am.
Police cordoned off several streets and nearby St Hilda’s Collegiate School was locked down.
Twelve officers were stationed at the intersection of Heriot Row and London St.
The five armed officers approached the property in Heriot Row after additional firearms were unloaded from a police vehicle.
No-one was injured during the incident.
The man is due to appear in the Dunedin District Court today.
The road was blocked off and residents trying to get back to their homes in Pentland St were told not to enter.
Armed officers were also in place in nearby Selwyn St.
Armed police, including the armed offenders squad and a canine unit, responded as a precaution and located a person of interest, a police spokeswoman said.
They were arrested "without incident".
A witness said they saw someone being taken into custody in Selwyn St shortly before 6pm.
Inquiries into the circumstances of the incident are ongoing.
The arrests follow several gun-related incidents in Dunedin over the past three months.
- By Tim Scott, PIJF cadet reporter
