The spokesperson said the driver, a 35-year-old local man, then ran from the vehicle but was soon tracked and located by a police dog.
He was arrested and charged with various driving-related offences including driving while suspended, driving in a dangerous manner, failing to stop when required and a firearms-related charge.
A witness, who did not want to be named, said he saw about 12 police cars and some police officers come out of a property on the corner of Burma Rd and SH2 with a firearm.
The man will be held in custody to appear in the Hastings District Court on Saturday.
Emergency services attended the scene of a crash where a ute smashed into a power pole outside Collision Repair Centre on Karamu Rd. Photo/Duncan Brown
Police were also called to a car crash on Karamu Rd, Hastings, at 6.40pm after a car smashed into a power pole outside Collision Repair Centre between Duchess Cres and Wolseley St.
Power lines were down and traffic control closed one road lane, redirecting northbound traffic down Duchess Cres while southbound traffic moved through the single lane.
A police spokesperson said St John Ambulance services were not required at the scene, indicating there were no injuries.
One bystander said they understood the driver of the ute had been doing skids in the carpark on the corner of Karamu Rd and Frederick St before leaving the area and smashing into the power pole.
