Rookie cops overpower armed man

Downtown drama: Police restraining the bloodied man outside an Auckland bar. Photo / Herald Online Video

Three young, unarmed constables carrying out a routine liquor licensing check at a central Auckland bar wrestled a loaded gun off a patron who was allegedly found with $10,000 and a large amount of P.

The city's top policeman has praised the trio's "professionalism and bravery".

Constables Ryan Singleton, Dean Burger and another officer, all thought to be in their 20s and from the Downtown Auckland police station, were at the Shakespeare Tavern on Thursday about 10.50pm.

Auckland area commander Andrew Coster said they were patrolling the streets on foot and conducting a liquor licensing check at the bar.

Sources told the Weekend Herald that Mr Singleton noticed a patron who appeared to be on drugs so went over to speak to him.

The man showed him a bag containing a large amount of cash and the officer asked him to go outside to talk to him. Once outside, the man appeared nervous and tried to run, but Mr Singleton grabbed his shoulder.

The man then pulled a chrome-handled pistol from his waistline and shouted, "I've got a gun".

As he drew the weapon, the constable put his arms around the man and held him tightly to pin the gun against him, and yelled to the other constables for assistance.

Mr Burger sprayed the man in the face with pepper spray but he did not drop the gun. Mr Singleton then tripped the man up, causing him to fall to the ground.

As he lay face down, Mr Singleton tried to grab the gun but the muzzle ended up being aimed up at Mr Burger.

The constable hit the offender's head a couple of times with his torch until he loosened his grip on the gun and police were able to handcuff him.

Video footage shows the man in handcuffs, wearing blue jeans, a white top, a green vest and sneakers, lying on the footpath next to a rubbish bin with blood over his face.

A St John paramedic is seen lifting up his shirt to look for other wounds before he and two policemen lift the man on to a stretcher and into the back of an ambulance.

A policewoman wearing gloves is seen wrapping the gun - a .22 calibre pistol with one round in the chamber and four in the magazine - in white cloth.

The man was taken to Auckland City Hospital with a dislocated elbow and bruising to his jaw.

Mr Coster said the officers received bumps and bruises but were not seriously hurt.

"These were three officers on a foot patrol, hindered by an armed man, who acted very bravely to arrest him," the commander said.

"From my point of view, they dealt with it very professionally and bravely. We're obviously thankful that it was able to be resolved without anyone being seriously injured."

The offender allegedly had a large amount of methamphetamine and $10,000 in cash.

A man is expected to appear in Auckland District Court today charged with possession of a class-A drug for supply, two counts of using a firearm against a police officer and using a firearm to resist arrest.