Police swoop after 'axe' incident

TENSE: Police have cordoned of an area of Tamatea near Bristol Street. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

An axe was allegedly used in an incident that sparked a major police callout in Napier this morning.

Areas of Tamatea's Bristol St and Rochester St were cordoned off in an incident that began about 10am after police received a call to say someone had gone to the house and started smashing walls and fittings with what was described as a small axe.
Police turned out in force and lay road spikes in the event the offender tried to leave by car.

One neighbour said he heard "yelling and smashing" sounds.

It is understood a woman had been at the property but had left, unharmed.

Armed police as well as dog teams swarmed into the immediate area.

Just after 11am two police walked the offender out of the house and took him to a nearby vehicle.

The man began yelling and gesticulating to people watching on.

A police spokesman said he was known to police and was known to have some "issues".
He was eventually taken away and the area opened up to residents again in the early afternoon after the scene had been cleared.

Some of those watching on believed there may have been some gang connection to what happened but police would not comment on that.

"We have a few enquiries to make before we know exactly what was going on," a spokesman said.