Charged over sawnoff shotgun incident

THE Armed Offenders Squad arrested a man after he allegedly fired a sawnoff shotgun outside the Luggate Hotel on Friday night.

The 42yearold Luggate man appeared in Queenstown District Court on Saturday.

He faced a charge related to the possession of an offensive weapon, two charges related to possession of cannabis and another related to drug utensils.

Wanaka police were called about 10pm after the man was alleged to have discharged a firearm outside the hotel, before taking it into the hotel, then leaving shortly afterwards.

The Dunedin Armed Offenders Squad arrested the man about 3.30am.

He was taken into custody without incident and a sawnoff shotgun was recovered by police.

Staff at the Luggate Hotel refused to comment.

A police spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing and they were yet to establish the full circumstances of what took place.

The man was remanded in custody and is due to appear in court again on May 7.

Police were not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident and reassured the Luggate community there was no ongoing risk.

Police were keen to hear from anyone who was at the hotel on Friday night before or during the incident.