Man arrested after pursuit

A two-hour pursuit of a man who claimed he had a firearm ended in his arrest in west Auckland tonight.

The man had threatened police and his own safety, a police northern communications spokesman said.

He was initially pursued by West Auckland police but escaped just after 7pm.

West Auckland police found him again and pursued at medium to low speeds. The man avoided numerous sets of spikes placed to stop him.

He phoned police on the 111 system and threatened to shoot any police patrols and harm himself. Police in the communications centre attempted to negotiate his surrender but he failed to comply, the spokesman said.

The armed offenders squad was activated and the man was followed to South Auckland by a number of units and the police helicopter. Cordons and spikes were placed around several South Auckland addresses in Takanini where the offender was thought to be heading.

As he entered the Clendon area his vehicle was spiked several times.

It was then forced from the road by police patrols as the man neared a target address.

The man was taken into custody about 9pm.

The spokesman said there was minimal damage to several police vehicles and the stolen vehicle.

During the pursuit, five police patrols followed the offender but numerous other patrols were ultilised to cordon addresses and to keep the offender on the motorway system and away from built-up areas.