By Jeremy Sollars
UPDATE, 3.30PM: A neighbour of a man who is holed up in a residence at Karara west of Warwick in a police siege this afternoon says he was behaving erratically in a vehicle in the area last night and police were called.
Police, including a PolAir helicopter crew, cordoned off the Meiklejohn Road property earlier today, Wednesday 21 February, after a male occupant of the residence in question made threats to officers and of self-harm.
It is understood he threw a sword at a Leyburn police officer early on in the incident but it is unclear if he has any other weapons.
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and the Karara Rural Fire Brigade are also on the scene with the man having lit a fire inside the residence earlier this afternoon but it does not appear to have damaged the structure.
A neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told the Free Times the man had been driving a vehicle erratically in the vicinity last night, beeping the horn and turning the lights on and off.
The neighbour said police were called last night about the man’s behaviour but did not attend the property until this morning.
Shortly before midday today police declared an emergency situation under the Public Safety Preservation Act and are continuing to negotiate with the man, who is understood to be the sole occupant of the residence.
Updates to follow.
