A man who was armed with a rifle and locked inside a house in Avonhead, Christchurch, has been taken into custody after a standoff with the police. The incident led to the evacuation of local residents and a police cordon being set up around the area. No injuries were reported.
The police were initially called to a residential address on Beatrice Place due to reports of a person with a firearm. The area remains under police watch, with investigations continuing.
Superintendent Lane Todd, Canterbury Metro Area Commander, thanked the residents for their patience and acknowledged the efforts of the police staff, including the Police Negotiation Team. The team worked for over eight hours to resolve the situation safely.
A local resident reported that the man had been speaking with the police from the front window of the house. The police had been trying to communicate with him over a megaphone since around 2:30 pm, urging him to come out for his own safety and for his family.
The area cordoned off by the police extended from Grahams Road to Coniston Avenue. Another resident mentioned the presence of police dogs and road spikes, indicating that the police were prepared for a possible escape attempt. A passerby also reported seeing armed police at the scene around 1 pm.
