A witness said the youth was seen climbing over back fences in the area and looking through windows in a block of flats in Reid Rd at 11.30am. A concerned resident alerted police and when officers arrived, the youth climbed on to the roof of the block of flats.
‘‘He ripped the aerials off the roof and was trying to hit anyone who came near him with them. He also pulled the copper [water] heater overflow pipes out of the roof and threw them at the police below.
‘‘When anyone came near him, he threatened to jump. He was there for over an hour.''
Another witness said a policeman climbed on to the roof and tried to calm the youth by offering him a cigarette.
‘‘They talked for a bit. The next thing I knew, the policeman grabbed him. It appeared they pepper-sprayed him.''
She said the police were very patient with the youth and the situation was resolved without injury.
‘‘The policeman was very brave. It was pretty dangerous".
The youth was handcuffed lifted down to the ground and carried about 20m to a waiting police car.
Senior Sergeant Steve Aitken, of Dunedin, said the 19-year-old would face several charges.
‘‘It was unfortunate that we had to deal with it by way of [pepper] spraying him. But it was the only way we could get him off the roof without him injuring himself or police staff while they arrested him.''
