Stand-off in Wee Waa

Wee Waa Police successfully ended a three-and-a-half-hour stand-off between officers and a 19-year-old man at 9pm, on Sunday.

Officers arrested and charged the man with a number of offences, he has been refused bail and is due back in Wee Waa Local Court on April 30 .

Inspector Robert Dunn said the stand-off occurred in Boundary Street and followed an incident earlier on Sunday, at a different location.

“We were called following an altercation in Wee Waa between the 19-year-old male and another person which resulted in damage to a motor vehicle,” said Insp. Dunn.

“At around 5:36 pm, police attended an address in Boundary Street where attempts were made to arrest the 19-year-old male in relation to the earlier incident.”

“The male tried to run from police and this resulted in him arming himself with a number of weapons and threatening harm,” alleged Insp. Dunn.

Insp. Dunn said police called in extra resources and established an operational area outside of the Boundary Street residence to ensure the safety of members of the public, as well as the person of interest.

For three-and-a-half hours police continued to communicate with the 19-year-old. He was in the yard of the house while police were communicating from the street.

“Other occupants were present in the house during the stand-off,” said Insp. Dunn.

“The incident resolved at 9pm when the male put down his weapons and surrendered himself to police,” said Insp. Dunn.

Insp. Dunn thanked members of the public who respected the boundaries of the operational area and offered assistance.

However, he said police were “frustrated” by members of the public who tried to enter the operational area continually.

“This could have shifted our focus from resolving the situation safely,” he said.

Insp. Dunn said that police will be reviewing footage captured at the scene to identify any further offences, particularly people who tried to interfere with the operational area.

Insp. Dunn praised the efforts of police who “showed a great deal of professionalism” in resolving the difficult situation and without anybody suffering injuries.

The 19-year-old man has been charged with breach of bail, threating injury to person with the intent of preventing lawful detention and malicious damage.

Emergency crews also attended the scene including the fire brigade and ambulance officers.

More police news in tomorrow’s The Courier and Wee Waa News.