Addressing reporters about 1pm, Wollongong Detective Chief Inspector Brad Ainsworth confirmed police had taken a man into custody and were likely to issue him with criminal infringements notices for handling and possessing explosives. 

“I can confirm that there was no firearms produced, there were no shots fired. What has happened is he’s let off a number of fireworks,” Insp Ainsworth said.  

Council rangers seized two dogs from the property as the man was taken into custody about 12.30pm. The dogs have been taken to the city pound for destruction (CORRECTION, 5.40pm: Council advises only one of the dogs, a Bull Mastiff/Great Dane cross, will be destroyed, after an attack on a neighbourhood goat on December 21. The other dog remains at the property. An investigation is ongoing, into whether the second dog was also involved in the December 21 attack).

Triple-zero calls from residents brought specialist police to the area from about 9am, prompting the closure of Buttenshaw Drive and some evacuations.

Police will allege the man threw fireworks onto his front lawn before retreating inside. 

“Residents phoned 000 under the belief they heard some gunshots,” Insp Ainsworth said.

“We respond in this way as we do for protection of the public and just as part of our standard operating procedures.

“If we get a call about shots fired we can’t just dismiss that. we’ve got to have the specialist resources here.” 

The 41-year-old man is a carer to his elderly mother. The woman remained at the home throughout the police operation and was never in any danger, police say.  

She has since been removed from the property and will be cared for by relatives. 

The operation ended after police negotiators spoke to the man on his mobile phone, and he handed himself in. ​

Noon: A man has been taken into custody after a police operation at Coledale that lasted almost three hours.

Police moved in on the Buttenshaw Drive home about 11.25am and took a man – believed to be aged 41 – into custody.

Buttenshaw Drive remains closed as police search and secure the site.

Animal control vehicles from Wollongong council arrived just before midday. The Mercury understands the man keeps a dog at the house.

Earlier: Police have closed a Coledale street after reports of gunshots Tuesday morning.

Multiple police cars raced to Buttenshaw Drive under lights and sirens just after 9am. The Polair helicopter is on site and appears to be searching the area from above.

NSW Ambulance  paramedics are also at the site on standby, waiting for police to secure the area. 

A resident has told the Mercury he heard the suspect noises and believes they came from a house that has attracted attention in the past. 

The resident said he recognised the sounds, having heard them before, and he did not believe they were gunshots. 

"(A man at the address) is bashing a piece of timber on concrete," he said. 

"It's been going on all morning."

Other residents described the man as "irate" and as having "a few issues". They said he had been heard "out on the street screaming" and had performed a burnout on a driveway in the street in the past. 

One said he had "gone berserk" this morning. 

Buttenshaw Drive is closed from Cater Street in the north. It is not known how far the road closure extends.

Buttenshaw Drive residents who were caught out by the road closure are not being allowed to return to their homes. 

Police said no injuries have been reported.

More to come

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