Armed man confronts police

A man was remanded in custody for a psychiatric assessment when he appeared in the Kaikohe District Court yesterday following a standoff with police in a Kawakawa street.

Earlier, the man broke into a shop armed with a knife. He was confronted by the shop-owner, who was sleeping on the premises, and went into the street where he smashed a car.

Senior Constable Pat Davis said the man stood in the street with two knives and a small sledgehammer while police waited for reinforcements. He was pepper sprayed before being overcome.

The man, who is charged with aggravated burglary and assault, possession of offensive weapons and interfering with a car, will reappear on November 2.