A man has been taken into custody after barricading himself in an Auckland store with a gun and destroying a bathroom.
On Thursday morning, the armed man fled police on foot after failing to stop his vehicle when signalled to pull over. He then barricaded himself inside the Cornish Truck and Van store located on Sunnybrae Rd, in the North Shore suburb of Glenfield.
Police surrounded the store and the man eventually left and was taken into custody without incident.
Witnesses who work nearby told Newshub they were warned by police to stay inside during the incident and were told the man was armed.
While police initially said a weapon wasn't involved, after searching the store, a gun was found hidden in the roof. They believe it was placed there by the alleged offender.
Newshub has been supplied an image of the bathroom in the store where the witness hid. It shows the roof and wall has been ripped away at. It is understood the alleged offender was trying to get through the wall to escape.
A second witness, who also works nearby, told Newshub, before the man was taken into custody, there was a "heavy police presence".
"We have about 20 or 30 officers. The road is blocked off at the two entranceways. There is an offender locked in Cornish Truck and Van," the witness said at about 10am.
Police say a number of charges are likely to be laid and they remain on scene.
Newshub.
