An automatic crash alert led to Police seizing a firearm, ammunition, and offensive weapons including swords and a crossbow in Palmerston North.
Around 1.40am on Saturday, the Police Emergency Communications Centre received a call that had been generated from an automatic crash alert from a smartphone, signalling from the corner of Bourke Street and Walding Street.
After hearing one “hello” before the call was ended by the person, officers were dispatched to the crash alert’s location. Attempts to call the person back went unanswered.
Manawatu Acting Area Commander Inspector Phil Ward says responding officers found that a vehicle had crashed into the side of a commercial building on Bourke Street.
“The man who had reportedly been driving was standing next to the vehicle, uninjured, reportedly holding a cross bow that was loaded and ready to fire – however, he dropped this immediately when challenged by officers.
“The man was taken into custody, and a quick search of the vehicle and nearby vicinity found that he had allegedly been attempting to hide an arsenal of weapons in the bushes,” says Inspector Ward.
Police located and seized a stolen .22 rifle, an air rifle, four samurai swords in sheaths, a machete, a cross bow and arrows, a large hunting knife, and a large amount of ammunition.
“I’d like to commend the fantastic work by our attending officers, as well as the quick work by staff in the Emergency Communications Centres responding to the automatic crash alert call,” Inspector Ward says.
A 22-year-old man is due in Palmerston North District Court on 18 June, facing a range of charges including driving with excess breath alcohol, careless driving, unlawfully possessing a firearm, possession of offensive weapons, and possession of a knife in public.
