Nelson police kept busy

Press, 30 December 1985, Page 1

Nelson police kept busy

Staff reporters One of two men evicted from the Riwaka Hotel, Nelson, on Saturday night is alleged to have taken a sword from a car, threatened hotel patrons, and then attacked the hotel frontage with it. The two men were later arrested by the Motueka police, and face a variety of charges. A police spokesman said that when a fight in which the two men were involved started in the hotel, the two were evicted. This was about 9.30 p.m. When they left the hotel, one man took a sabre from a vehicle, threatened patrons who were near the doorway, then attacked the door, say the police. A glass panel was smashed and plaster was dislodged from the walls. The man’s companion is also alleged to have armed

himself with a length of timber and joined in the attack on the hotel frontage. Windows and their aluminium frames were damaged. The men then left the hotel, but were found by the police soon after, and arrested. Meanwhile a police party of five had travelled from Nelson to assist in finding the two men. As a result of inquiries made at the hotel, two other arrests were made — one for possession of cannabis. The second arrest was linked to the hotel incident. A woman who called at the Moteuka police station is alleged to have assaulted a woman constable. The police bailed the man accused of having the sabre, the woman, and the person charged with cannabis possession. The other man in-

volved remained in custody and will appear in the District Court, at Nelson this morning. He and his companion are charged with assault with intent to injure. The man accused of having the sabre is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, wilful damage, and driving while disqualified. He will appear in the District Court on January 14. The Nelson armed offenders squad was called to Moteuka early on Saturday morning after a man was alleged to have pointed a gun at pedestrians about la.m. A man, aged 26, was arrested and was later remanded on bail to appear in the District Court on January 14 on firearm charges. Two men will face fire-arm-related charges in

Blenheim today after shots were fired in a Picton caravan park on Saturday morning. A car at the Blue Anchor Holiday Park had its windscreen shattered and a tyre punctured by the shots. Nobody was hurt during the shooting, believed to have arisen from a domestic dispute. Onlookers said a rifle was produced and fired after a heated argument and scuffle had broken out among a i group staying in a motel unit. : A police armed offenders i squad, comprising staff from Picton and Blenheim, were called to the park at i 1.45 a.m. and according to onlookers quickly defused i the situation. i Other guests helped the i police search for the rifle, which was found in bushes • near the park later on Sati urday morning.