Post by Bruce on May 8, 2009 9:54:18 GMT 12
Particularly ugly and unpleasant situation in Napier. 
From TVNZ:
tvnz.co.nz/national-news/armoured-vehicles-scene-napier-siege-2717525
Light armoured vehicles have been brought in to back up police at the scene of the Napier siege, where gunman Jan Molenaar is holed up in a house after allegedly shooting one officer dead and injuring three other men on Thursday.
Senior Constable Len Snee , 53, of Taradale police, was killed about 9.30am Thursday conducting an apparent low-risk cannabis operation at the Napier Hill property.
His body is still lying next to his police car outside the Chaucer Rd house on Friday morning.
Senior Constable Bruce Miller, 40, a community constable in the suburb of Ahuriri, dog handler Senior Constable Grant Diver, 50, and a neighbour were wounded by gunshots and all are in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital's intensive care unit.
Police spokeswoman Kaye Calder says police asked the defence force for "assistance with resources".
The army has responded by sending two light armoured vehicles, she says.
She declined to comment how police would use them to resolve the standoff, saying only they were serving in a support role.
Advertisement
Schools closed
Three schools are closed on Friday in Napier as a precautionary measure.
Parents and caregivers of Napier Central School, Napier Intermediate and Nelson Park School are being asked to make alternative arrangements for their children.
"Parents will be advised if the situation changes," says police spokeswoman Kris McGechan.
Road blocks are in place at several major intersections and commuters are being asked to take alternative routes.
House surrounded
About 30 armed offenders squad (AOS) members and other specialist police staff from across the North Island are continuing to surround the house, Calder says.
Police have contacted Molenaar by phone and are attempting to negotiate with him, she says.
NewtalkZB reported members of the Special Tactics Group, the police counter-terrorist and tactical wing, have joined AOS officers in the cordon around the house.
The journalist at the scene also reported three armoured vehicles had arrived in the area around the house, where former army reservist Molenaar was holed up with a rifle and possibly explosives.
Calder declined to comment on whether other defence force staff - specifically Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group agents - are also at the scene.
Molenaar, a 51-year-old former territorial army member, has been firing a high-powered rifle sporadically at police officers surrounding the house, she says.
He had been a member of the New Zealand Territorial Force from 1982 to 1988, Radio New Zealand reported.
Eastern District Commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said on Thursday night the gunman could stay holed up in his house for hours.
The three officers caught up in the shooting were married family men and veterans of the police force.
The drama began shortly after the unarmed police officers arrived at the address, Hoyle said.
Diver was able to crawl to a neighbouring house where he phoned the police station and the AOS came to his aid.
Members of the public also tried to help Miller.
Hoyle said the gunman was very determined and it would appear that he intended to hang in for the long haul.
Police had reports that in addition to the high-powered rifle, Molenaar had many rounds of ammunition and access to a number of weapons and explosives.
"Which we are taking seriously even though it is as yet unconfirmed."
Civil Defence set up a centre for evacuated residents to stay in while the siege continued.
Hoyle said the gunman was known to police, but only in a minor way.
"He was certainly not on our radar as a high risk offender. The job the police went to this morning was a very mundane low-level cannabis operation."
A woman who was in the house at the time of the shootings was able to leave the property and was helping police, Hoyle said.
She is believed to be Molenaar's partner.
"It is a waiting game. We will continue with our tried and true tactics around these types of offenders and are confident it will be resolved without any more people being hurt."
Police Commissioner Howard Broad said Snee's colleagues had attempted to recover his body from the scene but had come under direct fire from the house at each attempt.
"The fact we have got an officer we cannot get out from the situation, that we cannot confirm finally that the man is dead, is deeply distressing.
"He is in a position where we can say with reasonable certainty that he must be dead, but no one has been able to get there close to him and check that."
Mother says sorry
Molenaar's mother, Anna, said she was sorry for her son's actions .
"I just want to apologise to the police who have been shot and those who are injured and in hospital and all the trouble."
Mrs Molenaar said she was having difficulty understanding why her son apparently had chosen to shoot at the officers.
"What was he trying to protect? That's what I want to know. A silly marijuana plant?"
A friend of Mr Molenaar said he styled himself on Sylvester Stallone's Rambo film character and could have rigged his house with explosives.
The friend said Molenaar had been out walking his dog when he returned to find the police executing their search warrant.
A confrontation ensued and Molenaar retrieved a high-powered gun and began shooting, the friend said.
He said the 51-year-old was a "dab hand" with guns and explosives and police were cautious about entering the house as it could be booby-trapped.
End of quote
Seems the Police are taking a very cautious approach - I guess they wouldnt want all the criticism that comes from some quarters if they shoot someone...
From TVNZ:
tvnz.co.nz/national-news/armoured-vehicles-scene-napier-siege-2717525
Light armoured vehicles have been brought in to back up police at the scene of the Napier siege, where gunman Jan Molenaar is holed up in a house after allegedly shooting one officer dead and injuring three other men on Thursday.
Senior Constable Len Snee , 53, of Taradale police, was killed about 9.30am Thursday conducting an apparent low-risk cannabis operation at the Napier Hill property.
His body is still lying next to his police car outside the Chaucer Rd house on Friday morning.
Senior Constable Bruce Miller, 40, a community constable in the suburb of Ahuriri, dog handler Senior Constable Grant Diver, 50, and a neighbour were wounded by gunshots and all are in a critical condition in Hawke's Bay Hospital's intensive care unit.
Police spokeswoman Kaye Calder says police asked the defence force for "assistance with resources".
The army has responded by sending two light armoured vehicles, she says.
She declined to comment how police would use them to resolve the standoff, saying only they were serving in a support role.
Advertisement
Schools closed
Three schools are closed on Friday in Napier as a precautionary measure.
Parents and caregivers of Napier Central School, Napier Intermediate and Nelson Park School are being asked to make alternative arrangements for their children.
"Parents will be advised if the situation changes," says police spokeswoman Kris McGechan.
Road blocks are in place at several major intersections and commuters are being asked to take alternative routes.
House surrounded
About 30 armed offenders squad (AOS) members and other specialist police staff from across the North Island are continuing to surround the house, Calder says.
Police have contacted Molenaar by phone and are attempting to negotiate with him, she says.
NewtalkZB reported members of the Special Tactics Group, the police counter-terrorist and tactical wing, have joined AOS officers in the cordon around the house.
The journalist at the scene also reported three armoured vehicles had arrived in the area around the house, where former army reservist Molenaar was holed up with a rifle and possibly explosives.
Calder declined to comment on whether other defence force staff - specifically Counter Terrorist Tactical Assault Group agents - are also at the scene.
Molenaar, a 51-year-old former territorial army member, has been firing a high-powered rifle sporadically at police officers surrounding the house, she says.
He had been a member of the New Zealand Territorial Force from 1982 to 1988, Radio New Zealand reported.
Eastern District Commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said on Thursday night the gunman could stay holed up in his house for hours.
The three officers caught up in the shooting were married family men and veterans of the police force.
The drama began shortly after the unarmed police officers arrived at the address, Hoyle said.
Diver was able to crawl to a neighbouring house where he phoned the police station and the AOS came to his aid.
Members of the public also tried to help Miller.
Hoyle said the gunman was very determined and it would appear that he intended to hang in for the long haul.
Police had reports that in addition to the high-powered rifle, Molenaar had many rounds of ammunition and access to a number of weapons and explosives.
"Which we are taking seriously even though it is as yet unconfirmed."
Civil Defence set up a centre for evacuated residents to stay in while the siege continued.
Hoyle said the gunman was known to police, but only in a minor way.
"He was certainly not on our radar as a high risk offender. The job the police went to this morning was a very mundane low-level cannabis operation."
A woman who was in the house at the time of the shootings was able to leave the property and was helping police, Hoyle said.
She is believed to be Molenaar's partner.
"It is a waiting game. We will continue with our tried and true tactics around these types of offenders and are confident it will be resolved without any more people being hurt."
Police Commissioner Howard Broad said Snee's colleagues had attempted to recover his body from the scene but had come under direct fire from the house at each attempt.
"The fact we have got an officer we cannot get out from the situation, that we cannot confirm finally that the man is dead, is deeply distressing.
"He is in a position where we can say with reasonable certainty that he must be dead, but no one has been able to get there close to him and check that."
Mother says sorry
Molenaar's mother, Anna, said she was sorry for her son's actions .
"I just want to apologise to the police who have been shot and those who are injured and in hospital and all the trouble."
Mrs Molenaar said she was having difficulty understanding why her son apparently had chosen to shoot at the officers.
"What was he trying to protect? That's what I want to know. A silly marijuana plant?"
A friend of Mr Molenaar said he styled himself on Sylvester Stallone's Rambo film character and could have rigged his house with explosives.
The friend said Molenaar had been out walking his dog when he returned to find the police executing their search warrant.
A confrontation ensued and Molenaar retrieved a high-powered gun and began shooting, the friend said.
He said the 51-year-old was a "dab hand" with guns and explosives and police were cautious about entering the house as it could be booby-trapped.
End of quote
Seems the Police are taking a very cautious approach - I guess they wouldnt want all the criticism that comes from some quarters if they shoot someone...
