Police are urgently seeking information on the whereabouts of a man who fled from a rural property near Gisborne after being handcuffed this morning.
Sonny Kennedy was arrested at a Whakarau Rd address around 9.30am, police said. He was searched before being handcuffed at the front of his body.
However, the 36-year-old fled on foot towards Whakarau Rd as an officer walked him to a patrol vehicle, police said.
“The property is approximately 6km south-east of Matawai, around 26km from the intersection with State Highway 2.”
Kennedy was dressed in a dark-coloured hoodie and light-coloured trousers and sneakers. Police said he may have fled to a nearby bush area, and are “working urgently” to find him.
“There are concerns for his welfare due to his ill-preparedness for the conditions and his potential state of mind.”
Anyone who sees Kennedy or has information on his whereabouts has been asked to call 111 immediately rather than approach him directly.
