Bizarre end to Craigie siege

A siege at a house in Craigie has ended bizarrely, with the resident reportedly fleeing police.

Police were called to a Mayflower Crescent home just after 3pm yesterday after what neighbours described as a string of disturbances starting in the early hours of the morning, including a fire in the backyard.

The man became aggressive towards the firefighters and the Tactical Response Unit was brought in.

Both ends of the residential street were cordoned off as officers from the tactical response group surrounded the man’s house and tried to negotiate with the man.

But when the officers entered the house just before 7pm, he was not inside the property.

The man had apparently jumped over the back fence and fled, according to reports.

It is understood the man was found at a nearby home last night. Police were unable to confirm whether any charges had been laid.

Neighbour Angela Duke said the disturbances had started about 2am. The man had set fire to a pile of car parts in his backyard. Ms Duke’s 70-year-old father reported the fire.