Two people have been arrested after a roadside breath-test checkpoint in Northland led to the thwarting of an alleged kidnapping.
A Whangārei police spokesperson said officers are working to “untangle” the details.
It began at about 10.50pm on Saturday, the spokesperson said.
“Officers in the impairment prevention team were running a checkpoint on Riverside Drive in Whangārei when an occupant jumped out of a car and raised concerning claims.
“Based on the information, police quickly arrested the driver, a 31-year-old patched member of the Crips, who was the only other occupant of the car.
“Police spoke with the driver and his passenger before turning their focus to a Eureka Place address, where two more people were allegedly being held against their will.”
A “significant operation” followed, involving the armed offenders squad and a negotiation team.
“The address was kept under observation while an armed response was prepared,” police said.
“About midnight, a vehicle was seen leaving the address, running over road spikes laid in advance.
“The vehicle was pursued and continued at speed before stopping at a carpark in the city where the sole occupant, a 22-year-old man and patched Nomad gang member, was taken into custody.”
Two alleged victims were found inside the Eureka Place property, the spokesperson continued.
Whangārei Area Commander Inspector Maria Nordstrom praised the person who initially raised the alarm at the checkpoint.
“The officers at that checkpoint went from carrying out breath-tests to dealing with an active kidnapping in the blink of an eye,” she said.
“They have not wasted a moment to act on what were very concerning claims.
“I’m proud of the response and how the officers involved brought a potentially dangerous event to a safe resolution, with no injuries to any of the parties involved… Charges are likely once we establish the motives behind this event.”
