08 October 2008
An emotionally disturbed man is in custody following a standoff with armed Police on the outskirts of Paeroa this evening.
Waikato District Operations Manager, Inspector John Kelly, said SH26 was closed as Police cordoned off the rural property about 3.45pm.
"Local staff were called to reports of a domestic related assault in which a woman suffered a head wound from a blow struck by her son who we believe was armed with an iron bar.
"The first staff to arrive were threatened by the man, armed with a large knife , and retreated to await reinforcements, meanwhile the woman managed to lock herself in a bedroom and maintained communications with Police by telephone," said Mr Kelly.
"As a result of this the Waikato Armed Offenders Squad was called to the scene and negotiations commenced via the phone."
With phone negotiations stalling and the woman managing to escape the house tear gas rounds were fired into the dwelling and succeeded in forcing the man outside where he was arrested about 6.35pm.
Suffering a moderate head wound the injured woman was taken to a local medical centre for treatment and SH26 was reopened a short time later.
End