While her toddler slept in a nearby room, Hastings woman Mandy Cotter locked down her home and hid in a hallway as members of the Armed Offenders Squad made their way to the back of her neighbour's property. Police swooped on the hiding place of wanted man Shannon Quinton Watene ata Lawrence St, Hastings, address yesterday. Mongrel Mob member Watene had been on the run for 11 days after allegedly pointing a gun at a woman on January 2. Ms Cotter feared a repeat of last year's Napier siege when Jan Molenaar holed up on Napier Hill for three days.
Police were able to move in after an off-duty police officer saw Watene. He began to run but when confronted by a squad member at the back of the property gave himself up. The people he was with were described as "associates". Police were not sure whether he spent all his time at the house. The woman whose house was raided by squad members, would not be named for fear of gang reprisals. She would not say what he was doing at her house or how long he had been there. The whole incident had been "like the movies", she said. "He's not a criminal. They just make him look like he's a criminal." A friend of Watene's at the house in the Akina area of Hastings said today the alleged incident Watene was wanted for had been blown out of proportion: "He's a great guy." Hastings Police Senior Sergeant Ross Smith said Watene did not put up a fight. "It's good to get him off the street," he said. "We are talking to him about some incidents that he may have been involved in while on the run." Police were not intending to make any arrests in connection with people who may have helped Watene while he was on the run but inquiries were continuing. Watene was due to appear in Hastings District Court this morning.
