Some Mount Maunganui residents last night didn’t get much sleep, as police continue searching for a man accused of evading and then firing a shot at them.
Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton said police are searching for 31-year-old Aren Curtis. He has warrants for his arrest after not appearing in court.
When Curtis didn’t stop for police overnight, his car was later spiked on Seaspray Drive. police said. He then allegedly got out of the car and was pursued on foot by police. It was during this pursuit that he allegedly fired a shot in officers' direction, Paxton said.
Tony Overall, who lives around the Seaspray Drive area told 1 NEWS he heard “a lot of sirens and later a helicopter”.
“It was all just like TV happening nearly in my street.”
He said he didn’t hear a gunshot, but the commotion was “enough to keep me awake and interested”.
He said the neighbourhood is usually peaceful.
The confrontation took place early this morning as police were chasing Aren Curtis on foot.
Clint Reid, who also lives in the area, said he was awoken by noise of the police chase early in the day.
He then heard “couple big bangs and a bit of a crash” and “could hear [police] chasing someone around”.
“My son couldn’t sleep through it … He’s a little bit oblivious to it all, but I think some of the kids here have seen what’s happening.”
No one was hurt during the chase early this morning, but police advise anyone who encounters Aren Curtis not to approach him.
He wasn’t sure whether the bang he heard was a shot or not.
“Sounds like they might’ve been a shot … It might have been [the fleeing driver's] tyres going as well.”
Reid said the black Audi involved in the pursuit “wasn’t in a real bad way” by the morning, when a tow truck came to pick it up about 6.30am.
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