Wanted man 'always been in trouble with police', says sister

LAWRENCE SMITH/Sunday News LAWRENCE SMITH

ON THE HUNT: Armed police raided a Castle Street house this morning, searching for fugitive Daniel Vae.

WANTED: Daniel Vae is wanted on three arrest warrants.

DANGEROUS: The modified 5.56 semi automatic rifle police recovered during a raid on a Mt Roskill house.

OUT IN THE COLD: Armed police raided the home of the Vae family early this morning. They were left on the street without warm clothes or shoes.(L-R) Ruth Vae with Lakyn Vae(3)Aliitasi Vae with Phayezon Vae(5) and Fa'alolo Vae.(10).

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A wanted man who remains at large in Auckland has "always been in trouble with police", his sister says.

Early today an armed police raid at their home forced the family with three young children out into the street.

The Auckland police organised crime unit and the armed offenders squad searched houses in Mt Roskill and Castle St, Grey Lynn, in their hunt for 32-year-old Daniel Vae.

Tear gas was fired into the Grey Lynn house as the family, some in pyjamas, were ordered outside.

Vae's sister Ruth Vae, 29, said she was inside the house with her two daughters, Phaye, 5, Lakyn, 3, and a 10-year-old cousin, Faalolo, when she heard banging on the door and armed police yelling at them to get out.

Her sister Aliitasi Vae, 35, and their mother Niu Vae, 54, were also ordered out.

Ms Vae said she was told to put her hands on her head and come outside as police believed her brother might be there.

"We haven't seen Daniel for ages, probably weeks or months. He doesn't even live at the house," she told NZPA.

"He's always been in trouble with the police. But he's never around when he's in trouble. He stays away.

"Somebody must have told police he lived at the house, so I told them (police) that was hearsay and they were listening to second-hand information," she said.

Ms Vae said police used tear gas and told her she couldn't go inside for the rest of the day.

She said the children were screaming and frightened as 10 armed police wearing black surrounded the house and pointed guns at them.

Police showed her a search warrant which said they were looking for firearms.

"We didn't have anything to eat all morning and the kids needed to go to the bathroom."

Neighbours helped the family, one woman bringing clothes and another providing a cup of tea, Ms Vae said.

The family have lived in the house on Castle St for more than 20 years.

Police arrested one man at the Grey Lynn house and he was bailed to appear in Auckland District Court next week charged with possession of cannabis for supply.

At the Mt Roskill house police found a semi-automatic rifle, which had been modified to be a pistol, ammunition, a bullet proof vest and a non-police issue Taser.

Police said Vae, a Polynesian of solid build, was a patched gang member. They said he had a methamphetamine habit and was unpredictable.

"Police are concerned about some of his recent behaviour which seems to be escalating in its level of violence," Detective Senior Sergeant Mark McHattie said.

- NZPA