A 29-year-old man has been charged with firearms offences as the police investigation continues.
A 29-year-old man has been charged with firearms offences as the police investigation continues.
A man has appeared in court this morning charged with firearms offences after police responded to reports of an alleged armed kidnapping yesterday.
Police arrested a 29-year-old West Coast labourer 90kms from Christchurch where a 70-year-old driver allegedly told service station staff that an armed man was forcing him todrive to the West Coast.
At Christchurch District Court today, the man, a labourer from a small West Coast town, faced three firearms charges, including unlawful possession of a 9mm rifle and 8mm pistol, and unlawful possession of 10 9mm rounds and 10 8mm rounds.
No kidnapping charges have been laid in court today.
The man made a brief appearance from custody before Judge Tony Couch this morning before he adjourned the case to be recalled later this afternoon.
Staff at a Christchurch service station called police just before 2pm yesterday saying a customer allegedly told them he was being abducted by a man with guns who wanted him to drive them through to the West Coast.
After a massive manhunt west of the city, a car was found heading west on State Highway 73.
Police units took chase and arrested a 29-year-old man without incident at Lake Lyndon on the Arthurs Pass road about 90kms from Christchurch. No one was injured, police said.
They said a number of firearms were found inside the vehicle.
The arrested man was taken back to Christchurch for questioning as police launched an investigation.
Detective Sergeant Craig Johnson today said: "Further inquiries conducted last night have now established that the victim and the alleged offender were known to each other."
Police say they are continuing to support the victim.
