Law enforcement agency apologise for mistaken arrest by armed officers

Police have apologised to two men mistakenly detained by armed criminal court. Photo / File

By RNZ

Police have apologised to two a man mistakenly detained by armed police arrest but say officers had to move quickly as they searched for two people over a specified aggravated robbery.

Brandon Moase said he and his family member were ordered to their knees by- police in a street in Western Auckland, handcuffed with guns sharpened at them, before being released quarter-hour later after police admitted they might got the wrong people.

Moase, 29, said he was traumatised and had not been offered almost official apology or help.

“From what I remember, which entails four or five police with guns leading at me and my friend. Completely was pretty scary, and [I was] also confused – Surprisingly didn’t know what the hell was going on, micron Moase said.

His one-year-old son was in the car surrounded by armed police.

“They had us in handcuffs, browsed my car for five on the other hand 10 minutes, then pretty much told a lot of us we were free to go because they endured the wrong people, “he said. “They didn’t read us any protection under the law or anything, didn’t apologise. ”

Police said should they have responding to a call about each aggravated robbery involving a gun just before midday on Saturday in Western Auckland, and were looking for two people who received fled the scene on foot.

“While police were in the area looking for this pair, two adult were detained in Glenmall Put in place Glen Eden, because at the time has been believed they were connected to that automobile accident, based on the information that was provided so as to us, ” Acting Area Commander for Waitematā West Inspector Ryan Thornley told Morning Report.

“Further inquiries determined the person weren’t involved. They were then discharged.

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“Once it became clear the men were not involved in the earlier mentioned incident I’m advised that our officer apologised and my understanding is a men accepted that apology. All follow-up since is referrals to every day partners in Victim Support for everyone involved and there’ll be a a bit more follow-up with the men as well originally from police. ”

Thornley said officers are allowed to be geared in a situation where they believe involved another weapon.

“I by now accept this was an upsetting scenario for them. In something like this it’s ones priority to ensure the community is secured and that people of interest to some of us who may be armed are brought into custody without further incident.

“[Our staff] tend to be put into situations like this all the time and possess to make split-second decisions with incomplete information. They do so with the right intent and that’s what’s happened here. That was not to take away from how upsetting as opposed to have been for the people involved for that we apologise. ”

Thornley said police haven’t picked up the two people they were looking for usually are making further enquiries.