Te Awamutu residents panic as police search for man
Fearful residents took cover in Te Awamutu when police blocked off a street in the town.
Te Awamutu police are searching for a man who they believe to be armed after an incident in the town late yesterday.
Last night, Te Awamutu residents were locking all their doors as stories circulated about gunshots and a man hunt.
The police blocked off Rewi Street and Station Road and witnesses reported seeing an armed offenders squad searching the surrounding area.
Comments on facebook were reporting hearing gunshots, and residents started to panic with some climbing into their bathtubs to wait out the drama.
Inspector Andy Brill said that the officers were responding to a domestic situation that was ‘all over’ by 10pm last night.
Police issued a statement on their website this morning that said there was a search under way for a man who they believe to be armed.
Inspector Paul Carpenter said: “The male occupant was not located at the property and we believe he had fled the scene shortly after the incident began.”
Fire trucks, ambulances and police remained in the area until about 10pm but residents are still on high alert.
Facebook was rife with comments during the callout, giving people a play-by-play update of speculative information.
The gunshots that were reported have now been confirmed as distraction devices and no one appears to have been hurt in the process.
