Seven children, including an eight-month-old baby, that were taken on the run for two days with their fugitive father have been found safe and well.
Brett Mahoney, 31, was arrested without incident at a Palmerston residence, where his children and partner were present, early on Thursday morning.
He was wanted by police over a dispute at a home in Dundee Beach on Saturday night, when he, his partner and two others allegedly made threats while armed.
No drugs have been seized in relation to the incident and Detective Acting Superintendent Karen Sanderson said police were still investigating whether the matter was a personal dispute or related to criminal dealings.
She would not say why Mahoney took off with the children, the oldest aged 11, on Tuesday. Police on Wednesday searched an area spanning 200 square kilometres.
"We don't consider they were in danger," Det Acting Supt Sanderson said.
"We had concerns for their welfare and that was obviously a priority consideration for us." She said the two shotguns were still unaccounted for and that it was not known who they belonged to or whether Mahoney had taken them with him while evading police.
"The firearms remain outstanding and that's a concern for us," Det Acting Supt Sanderson said.
"We would ask that anyone who knows anything about the whereabouts of the firearms to let us know."
Investigators will question Mahoney later on Thursday and expect to lay charges against him for firearms offences, as well as possible charges relating to running away with his children.
Share
