A man known for several escapes and hunts by police in Hawke's Bay after failures to appear in court is back on the run following another no-show at the Manukau District Court in South Auckland.
Detective Senior Sergeant Glenn Baldwin, of Auckland City Police, said yesterday 38-year-old Shannon Watene was "actively avoiding police" and a warrant for his arrest was issued after he failed to appear in the Manukau court on Thursday.
Distinguishable by the word "notorious" tattooed across his face and thought to be driving a 2010 blue Holden Commodore (Reg No FML689), he was considered most likely to be in the Auckland or Counties Manukau area, although he has had gang and family connections in Hawke's Bay.
Among Watene's previous straying was his June 2007 escape from Napier police station. A few weeks later he featured in a high-speed chase after which he leapt into the Ngaruroro River in an attempt to evade capture.
He was caught in the water and he and an officer were plucked by helicopter from a river island.
Wanted for firearms offences in January 2010, he was arrested in an armed siege in Akina, Hastings, and in December 2014 he was recaptured in an armed police operation in Te Kuiti while wanted following an armed incident in Hamilton.