Armed police on Hopper Street, wanted man not found

Report from RNZ
Armed police were on Hopper Street in central Wellington this morning and a cordon was set up.

About a dozen police officers and half a dozen police cars were in the street, surrounding an apartment building.

Cordons were also in place at the intersections of Webb and Hankey streets. After the northern end of Hopper Street was reopened, the street remained blocked south of the intersection with Arlington Street.

A police officer was turning cars around at the cordon. He told a driver: “It’s imperative to your safety and the safety of others.”

Wellington City Area Commander Inspector Dean Silvester said police learned there may have been a gun in an apartment after arriving around 10.30am with an arrest warrant. He said officers pulled back and used a drone to clear the apartment before the armed offenders squad went inside.

But the person they were looking for wasn’t there.

Senior Sergeant Rhys Connell said two people at the apartment were put in handcuffs as a precaution, but no charges were laid, and they have since been let go.

One of them said they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it was pretty confronting having armed police bust in the door.

A resident of a Hopper Street council housing complex said police barred him and his neighbours from entering.

Housing provider Te Toi Mahana took over management of a housing complex on Hopper Street this week. A staff member said it was aware of the incident. “Te Toi Mahana is aware of an incident at Te Mara apartments and are supporting police with their response.”