Wednesday, 10 March 2010
Flatmates caught up in drama
News
Thursday, 04 February 2010 11:46

Hamilton's Eric O'Kane had only popped home to pick up his toolbox.

Next minute, he had a a rifle pointed in his face.

Police yesterday stormed on to the Hamilton property where he lives after one of his flatmates allegedly made several threatening phone calls to ACC earlier in the morning.

However, the man – who threatened to kill himself and others – was ringing from a Whanganui house.

A Waikato police spokesman said staff at the Hamilton ACC office received threats from a man who claimed to be armed. "Subsequent to those threats being made he has rung ... claiming that he is going to commit suicide and is going to take somebody with him. As a result armed police responded."

And that they did.

As media arrived at the Lake Rd house armed officers ran on to the property shouting at the occupants to come outside with their hands up.

Mr O'Kane and the other occupant Matthew Revell complied with police demands. After a short discussion, police left and a man was later arrested at a Whanganui house. He was referred for a psychiatric assessment.

Mr O'Kane told the Waikato Times he was "going to have a stern word" with his flatmate.

"I think he's just pissed off at the system like some other people probably are too."

Mr O'Kane said he had been working in Chartwell all morning and had just stopped to pick up some tools.

"I came home to grab my toolbox and then there's a guy pointing a rifle in my face ... I just wanted my toolbox. I didn't want any drama," he laughed.

Mr Revell was in bed asleep when he heard the ruckus outside.

"I heard the dog barking and opened the curtain to have a look and the cop pointed his gun at me ... it was unreal," he said while taking a few deep breaths.

Mr Revell,said he did not know what his flatmate's story was. "I wouldn't expect him to make threats like that though." ACC director of operations, Graham Bashford, said the Hamilton branch was closed for about 45 minutes as a result of the incident.

Stuff

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freefallnz said:

...
A tragedy in the making!.. Both for the claimant and possibly his flatmates and the police.

But is it surprising that things like this happen.

Yesterday we hear about an ACC claimant being made homeless

ACC's treatment of claimants leaves a lot to be desired.

ACC destroy and remove claimants documentation; destroy files and medical reports that do not suite the corporations objective.

Manufacture medical reports by withholding relevant medical information from their "approved assessors".

Disregard claimants rights under the health and information act by dis entitling them for refusing to undergo "procedures" that will further injure them!

As the owning company of Dispute Resolution Services Limited. ACC manipulates and abuses the procedures of the only legislated appeal authority and runs claimants around in circles and deny them their right to natural Justice.

Its time for a full judicial inquiry... Let the claimants present their documented proff of the corruption and travesty that is ACC
February 04, 2010

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