Arrest made after cars hit by pellets
A man has been arrested after police say he fired a high-powered air rifle at passing vehicles on an isolated Whangarei road, with one of the vehicles carrying a pregnant woman and her children.
Hikurangi Police Senior Constable Gavin Benney said a 28-year-old Mokau man had been arrested on two counts of careless use of a firearm after police went to Mokau shortly after 1.30pm yesterday. It was reported that a man was firing at vehicles.
Mr Benney said the arrested man was allegedly hiding in bush near the Mokau Marae, on Old Russell Rd, and taking pot shots at passing vehicles.
He said two vehicles were known to have been hit by a pellet, including one transporting a pregnant woman and her children.
Mr Benney has appealed for anybody who was in the Mokau area around that time, or who thought they may have been fired at, to contact him at Hikurangi Police Station on 433-8787.
"He was firing at about the driver's head-height level. I suspect there may have been more vehicles hit so I'd like anybody else affected to get in touch," he said. Mr Benney said the woman was scared by the incident, but it was fortunate that nobody was hurt. He said it wasn't a good idea to fire an air rifle at vehicles as it could cause a major accident or death.
There were also unconfirmed reports that a jogger may have been fired at on the road.
The arrested man will appear in Whangarei District Court on the charges this week.
