Man arrested after firing crossbow at two police officers in Eltham

Police have opened fire after a man allegedly shot a crossbow at them during a dramatic standoff in Melbourne’s northeast.

Police officers fired shots at a crossbow-wielding man during a tense standoff in Eltham.

Police have opened fire after a man allegedly shot a crossbow at them during a tense standoff in Melbourne’s northeast.

Officers were called to Reynolds Rd in Eltham about 1.40pm after receiving reports a man armed with a crossbow was acting erratically.

Initial attempts by police to negotiate with the man were unsuccessful but he later emerged from the back door of the property and allegedly fired his crossbow at two officers.

Police at the scene in Eltham where a man fired a crossbow and police returned fire with guns.

It’s understood the officers then drew their weapons and returned fire in his direction.

The man — who was not injured in the incident — retreated inside the property and surrendered to police shortly afterwards.

A 26-year-old Eltham man was interviewed by police on Monday night.

He has been charged with reckless conduct endangering life, assault with a weapon, assault police and criminal damage and is due to appear in Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

A resident of Reynolds St said she heard the incident unfold from her front yard.

“I was putting something in the rubbish bin and I heard this big bang, it sounded like a gunshot,” she said.

“And then I walked up … to see what was going on … and I saw a young, smaller police woman just crouched down, and she had a gun in her hand. I thought ‘oh my god, a gun’ ... it was scary.”

Originally published as Man arrested after firing crossbow at two police officers in Eltham