Knife-wielding man triggers stand-off

A Northland man was pepper-sprayed and arrested after arming himself with a brace of butcher's knives and announcing police "weren't going to take him".

Whangarei police called to a domestic incident in Smeaton Drive today found the man waiting for them on the street, armed with two knives.

"The offender armed himself when he heard that police were called and said police weren't going to take him," a police spokesman said.

When he refused to drop the knives and came toward the officers, they pepper-sprayed him.

His continued unwillingness to put down the knives triggered a stand-off, and armed offenders squad members were called.

The incident was resolved about an hour later , when the man gave himself up. No-one was injured.

- NZPA