A section of Malone Road in Lower Hutt was cordoned off on Thursday after a sudden death prompted a major police response, including the presence of armed officers.
According to a report by Stuff, emergency services were called to the scene at around 8.15 am after reports “of a man being located on the ground outside an address”, according to a police statement. A forensic tent was later set up on the roadside as investigations began.
“Emergency services at the scene can confirm the man has died. The immediate area has been cordoned off as inquiries are undertaken. Further information will be provided as it becomes available,” the brief statement said on Thursday afternoon, Stuff has quoted.
Authorities closed off part of Malone Road between Galway Street and Bauchop Road, restricting access while inquiries continued. Witnesses at the scene reported a heavy police presence throughout the morning.
A journalist present shortly after midday observed what appeared to be “a few family members” of the deceased waiting near the cordon for updates, as quoted by Stuff.
Local resident Brian McDiarmid said there were “a lot” of police officers in the area earlier in the day. “A tent has been set up in the middle of the road, but we don’t know anything about what’s happened,” he said, Stuff has quoted.
According to Stuff, another resident from nearby Avon Street said police had been going door to door seeking information from locals. “They couldn’t say what happened but said there’s going to be an armed police presence around for the next few days and we’ll likely see something on the news,” the woman said.
Police also asked residents if they had heard anything “overnight or this morning” and requested access to any available security footage. “We do have a ring doorbell but nothing caught on it,” the woman said, Stuff has quoted.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death are ongoing.