Police found a machete in the car, while a firearm was found during a search warrant ... a short time later.Acting area commander Inspector Anna Jackson
An armed police swoop on a car surrounded in a Rotorua street has been described as being like a scene from a movie.
A 19-year-old Kawerau
man was arrested and charged with firearms offences after allegedly pointing a gun at a man in a car at Tikitere, 18km northeast of Rotorua, on Thursday.
Acting area commander Inspector Anna Jackson said armed police were used to get five people, two men and three women, out of a car.
"Police found a machete in the car, while a firearm was found during a search warrant that was executed at an Owhata address a short time later," Ms Jackson said.
The 19-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawfully presenting a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition and possession of an offensive weapon.
A second man was arrested and charged with possession of a knife.
Seven police cars and armed officers converged on the car about 12.30pm Thursday near the Night & Day Gull Service Station on Te Ngae Rd, blocking it in from all directions.
Lynmore resident Casey Best, who witnessed the police swoop, said it was like something out of an American movie.
She heard sirens coming from both directions before she saw the car being stopped.
"It was really full-on ... like a scene of some Yankee movie with cops coming from all directions. They forced the driver into the kerb."
She said she was a bit frightened when she saw police pointing rifles at the people in the car.
"I crossed the road. I didn't want my girl to be frightened," she said.
Another man, who did not wish to be named, said police were very professional.
"I had to look twice when I saw the rifles, but ... they had those people out of that car so fast they couldn't have gotten away if they wanted to.
"It was most impressive to see them in action."
