Man with baby, knife arrested after armed stand-off

A man is in custody after the police Armed Offenders Squad and a negotiating team was called to a park in Masterton where a stand-off involving a man with a knife and a baby took place this afternoon.

The man is now in custody and the baby is unharmed.

Police communications team leader Kirsty McDonald said the police had concerns for the man's safety.

She said the stand-off was taking place at the Churchill Rose Garden on High Street.

Ms McDonald said the man was believed to be 24 years-old. She said he may have had dealings with Masterton Police earlier today and police communications became involved shortly after midday.

She said all traffic between the Vivian and Fleet St intersections on High St had been blocked.

A woman whose house backs on to the gardens said she could see the heads of three armed offenders squad members over her fence.

"They've got black hoods on and I can see the top of their heads over the fence," the woman - who wished to remain anonymous - said.

She said a large crowd had gathered on the street outside but were moved back when the armed offender's squad arrived.

"Someone said he's got a baby and he's holding a knife over it," the woman said.

Jim Harris from the near-by Acorn Estate Motel said ambulances were on stand-by and the area had been cordoned off.

A woman who did not want to be named said she believed the incident could be taking place in the back of a residential property that backs on to the gardens.

She said there was not a visible police presence in the area.

The woman said her friends had been calling her to get information and passing more information on.