A man who allegedly kidnapped a man at gunpoint during a high-speed, meth-fuelled police chase has denied charges against him.
The 27-year-old man appeared in North Shore District Court this morning charged with two counts of aggravated burglary, two counts of failing to stop, possession of methamphetamine, two counts ofthreatening to kill or do grievous bodily harm, using firearm against police, kidnapping, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and dangerous driving.
He was granted interim name suppression by Judge Jonathan Down to protect fair trial rights.
The judge was surprised by the slew of charges though.
The pursuit began on Lake Rd in Devonport at 12.25am when the police investigated the sounds of a car doing burnouts.
A patrol car tried to catch up with the vehicle but it allegedly sped off.
The pursuit briefly came to a halt when spikes deflated the tyres of the fleeing car but when the vehicle stopped, the driver allegedly made a dash for freedom, breaking into a house and allegedly holding up a 64-year-old man at gunpoint.
Police allege the gunman smashed a ranchslider door and ordered the resident into his own Ford Falcon with him before fleeing south.
It is alleged the defendant finally stopped in the Waikato, got out of the car and hid behind it.
He was taken into custody by the Armed Offenders Squad shortly afterwards.
Police said the man told them he had swallowed methamphetamine and he was subsequently taken to hospital.
The defendant will be back in court next month. The issue of name suppression will be argued fully in June.
