Manhunt as guns stolen, cars rammed

Two houses in Gore were raided by the armed offenders squad yesterday morning as police searched for a man who allegedly rammed two police cars, stealing one, before making off on foot with two stolen guns.

Southern district commander Paul Basham said he had ordered Eastern Southland and Invercargill police to carry firearms as the search for 24-yearold Hori Gemmell, who is considered dangerous, continued.

A police spokesperson said they were executing a number of search warrants in the Southland area. These were likely to continue until they located the driver involved in the incident overnight, as well as the two firearms.

Police said they tried to stop a vehicle in Beattie St in Gore, Southland, shortly before midnight on Wednesday.

The driver allegedly rammed the patrol car before fleeing on foot with police chasing, also on foot. It was believed the driver then circled back around and stole the patrol car which the officers had left the keys in.

Police attempted to stop the offender by smashing a window of the car and attempted to taser him but were unable to because of the clothing he was wearing.

The offender rammed another police car and fled the scene.

The officers in the second vehicle armed themselves and began looking for the stolen vehicle, which was located a short time later in Gore.

Two police Glock pistols had been taken from the abandoned patrol car but two spare magazines had been left behind, police said. The car’s keys gave access to the weapons lock-box.

Cordons were set up around Gore and about 1am an officer at Wyndham, south of Gore, chased a suspicious vehicle for about 35 minutes in rural areas around Gore and Mataura before abandoning the pursuit.

About 40 minutes later a suspicious vehicle was seen in River Rd and police located the vehicle behind a property.

The armed offenders squad and a helicopter with thermal search equipment were used during the pursuit. Police then chased another car, believed to be driven by the same man, through the Ferndale area but the driver wasn’t caught.

Gemmell is a shearer who lives in the Clutha district. He is considered dangerous and should not be approached. Finding Gemmell was an ‘‘absolute priority’’, Basham said. Police would be reviewing the incident, including that the keys had been left in the vehicle, he said.