Arrests as armed police swoop on Fernhill

Officers make an arrest at the Taihape Rd intersection, Fernhill, where armed police descended yesterday. Photo / Warren Buckland

Four people were arrested and roads around the township of Fernhill closed for more than two hours yesterday, as police searched for a shotgun alleged to have been brandished by a man outside a property in the area.

Senior Sergeant Nick Dobson, of the police Eastern District command centre in Napier, said police were alerted about 4pm, and uniformed police and an armed offenders squad was called in.

At least three people left the property soon after police arrived and were taken into custody at a police cordon nearby in Taihape Rd, off State Highway 50 between Napier and Hastings. Police searched a property and sections of Taihape, Swamp and the Korokipo Rd section of SH5 were closed to traffic, with cordons finally being lifted after 6pm.

Mr Dobson said he understood no guns had been recovered but all four people were expected to face charges, including obstruction.

One faced driving charges.