A Bay of Plenty man who had a 10-hour stand-off with armed police wants an apology and compensation.
Simon Hick said police overreacted when they stormed his house at Ohope, 6km east of Whakatane on October 9, 2007.
Mr Hick, who hasn't been convicted of any offence arising from the events of that day, said he was still angry at the way he had been treated during and following the "police home invasion".
Armed police supported by about a dozen police vehicles, fire engines, specialist chemical hazard vehicles and ambulances, surrounded Mr Hick's home, after he was earlier seen spreading what was thought to be a toxic substance on a neighbouring property's window sills.
The "toxic substance" was actually animal repellent Skunk Shot (a harmless but smelly paste).
Mr Hick admitted he was drunk and his actions were stupid and regrettable.
But he said he knew the day was "going to be a little different" when he looked out the window and saw figures dressed in black carrying weapons and heading in his direction.
"Half an hour later there was a horrendous noise as two shells were fired through the windows of my house.
"It took a couple of minutes for the tear-gas to start affecting my eyes and my instincts took over and I headed for the attic," he said.
For the next "four hours or so ", police officers using a loud hailer repeatedly called on him to leave immediately, and said the longer he remained inside the house, the worse it would be for him.
He said the armed offender squad slowly moved in and fired more tear gas through the windows as a helicopter hovered.
"At one stage a short burst of bullets was fired at the roof, not far from where I was hiding."
Eventually, cold and hungry, he dislodged some ceiling tiles to jump to the dining table below. From there he stepped outside where he was confronted by armed policemen.
Mr Hick said he was then savaged by a police dog before being hand-cuffed and taken to Whakatane police station, where he was seen by a doctor and two lawyers.
He also met someone from community mental health and, although he was sure of his own sanity, signed a paper agreeing to a five-day psychiatric assessment.
At the time of the siege, Whakatane Senior Sergeant Bruce Jenkins said police had been wary of approaching the man and the house, given the chemical risk.
"He was known to have access to toxic material, which had been smeared at the house," Mr Jenkins said.
"We did not know if he was armed, nor the nature of the chemical, and chose to play it safe for his sake, and for the staff involved."
Mr Hick said he had filed three complaints with the Independent Police Conduct Authority, but the authority did not appear interested in taking matters further.
Yesterday, an authority spokesman said Mr Hick's file was closed, and the authority had no comment to make on the matter.
