Photo: RNZ / Pretoria Gordon
A 37-year-old man has been charged with unlawfully carrying an imitation firearm in central Wellington on Wednesday.
The person was taken into custody from a building at 92-96 Webb Street, in the suburb of Te Aro, at about 6.15pm.
The corner of Webb and Victoria Street was closed, with a cordon set-up around the building as a precaution, after a person inside had been seen with what appeared to be a firearm in their pocket at 1.20pm.
The Ministry of Housing confirmed that the building - formerly the Harbour City Motor Inn - was used for transitional housing.
The building was featured on a list that needed to be checked after the Loafers Lodge tragedy.
The Armed Offenders Squad, as well as several officers, firefighters and paramedics, surrounded the premises. A police dog was also seen entering and leaving.
Five loud bangs were heard from "distraction devices" fired from two officers toward the building in a bid to engage with the man.
Shouting and the sound of glass shattering came from the building about the time the person was taken into custody.
Lights had been turned on inside and a person could be seen being walked to the back door of a police car at about 6.20pm.
The cordon was removed a short while after, with residents - who had waited outside the building - able to return home.
Police remained at the address to conduct further enquiries.
The person is scheduled to appear in Wellington District Court on 11 September.
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