A man allegedly armed with a gun holed up in a home at Lemon Tree Passage sparked a major police operation involving the Tactical Operations Unit on Friday afternoon.
Police released a statement urging people to avoid the area around John Parade, which joins Elizabeth Avenue via a waterfront circuit along Port Stephens Beach, just before 2pm, though they initially declined to give a reason other than that a police operation was under way.
In a later statement, police said emergency services were called to Elizabeth Avenue, Lemon Tree Passage, following a concern for welfare report.
Officers attached to Port Stephens Hunter Police District were then told a man was inside a home, allegedly armed with a gun, the police statement said.
Negotiators and the officers attached to the Tactical Unit "assisted", police said, arresting a 28-year-old man in the backyard of a neighbouring property some four hours after they were called to the scene.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station where inquiries were ongoing.
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