Unarmed police officers disarm man with air rifle

File photo / NZ Herald

Two unarmed police officers disarmed a man wielding a loaded air rifle at a rural Waikato property last night.

Waikato police said the 36-year-old man, who was armed with a long-barrelled firearm, later found to be a loaded air rifle, assaulted one of the officers.

North Waikato area response manager, Senior Sergeant Gill Meadows said two officers were called to a Glen Massey property in north Waikato about 10.30pm following reports of a man yelling and acting aggressively.

On arriving at the Waingaro Rd property the two unarmed officers were told the man was upset and hiding in a bach behind the main house.

As they approached the officers were confronted by the man wielding a firearm, and dived for cover.

"Able to talk their attacker down, the officers were unaware their calls for backup on their radios went unheard due to poor radio coverage in the area," Mrs Meadows said.

The offender put his firearm on the ground and raised his arms in the air, but reached for his gun again as one of the officers approached him.

"The officer got between the offender and the gun and was arresting the man when a struggle began," Mrs Meadows said.

"Handcuffing the offender, the officer was able to get the attention of his partner and the pair were able to take him to their patrol car where he assaulted one of the officers again."

Ms Meadows said the actions of the officer who disarmed the offender were being forwarded recognition.

"One of the other things that has been identified as a risk from last night is that we had a group of adults who provided a man with existing head and mental health issues alcohol with nearly tragic results," she said.

"In addition, this man also had access to firearms, which in this case was discovered to be a loaded air rifle."

Mrs Meadows said police were yet to decide whether further action would be taken.