Extensive search ends with arrest
The wanted man who fled Invercargill police, resulting in a search operation involving a helicopter, has been arrested.
The helicopter was deployed and a boat put on standby as armed police searched for the man in Invercargill after he failed to stop for police and then led them on a short pursuit.
Detective Sergeant John Kean said the helicopter crew, using a thermal-imaging camera, managed to find the man hiding in a swampy area near the Waihopai River.
He was taken to hospital as he was suffering from dog bites and hypothermia, Kean said.
Police found a firearm and ‘‘several other items of interest’’ when they searched the car he had ditched in a nearby paddock, he said.
A police communications spokeswoman said police had arrested the man shortly before 2.30pm yesterday.
Police received information shortly before noon about the whereabouts of the man, who had a warrant for arrest. They tried to stop him as he was travelling along North Rd, near Coupland’s Bakery, but did not pull over, the spokeswoman said.
A short pursuit was quickly abandoned and officers soon found he had ditched his car in a paddock north of Beatrice St at the end of Bill Richardson Drive.
Armed police searched on foot for the man along the banks of the Waihopai River and the surrounding area.
Because the search was taking place near the Oreti River, a boat was on standby, she said.
A police spokeswoman said the armed offenders squad had been called in as a precaution because the man was wanted.