Three Wairoa men are before the courts following three separate, unrelated incidents in the town this weekend.
Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Darren Pritchard said the first incident occurred in Ruataniwha Rd at around midday on Saturday when a man allegedly presented a firearm.
“Soon after, officers located the man in a vehicle and arrested him.”
The 50-year-old man subsequently appeared in Gisborne District Court facing several firearms and drug-related charges.
The second incident was a house fire in Frasertown, north of Wairoa, at around 7.30pm on Saturday.
Pritchard said the house was totally destroyed, with the blaze determined to be suspicious.
A 37-year-old man was arrested on Monday, charged with arson and was expected to appear in Gisborne District Court today.
Pritchard said the third incident was a report of gunshots being fired in the Clyde Domain, followed by a serious crash on Kopu Rd in the early hours of Sunday.
The single-vehicle crash killed the driver and a passenger sustained minor injuries.
“That passenger, a 27-year-old man, was subsequently arrested and charged with firearms-related offending,” Pritchard said.
He is scheduled to appear in Wairoa District Court on May 25.
Pritchard said police would continue to make inquiries into the crash, and the events leading up to it, on behalf of the coroner.
“Our sympathies are with the family and loved ones of the deceased driver.”
