Police have arrested a 27-year-old man who allegedly threatened residents with a gun at Bowraville, south of Coffs Harbour, this afternoon.
Earlier, police located a vehicle, in which the man was believed to be driving, in Bellingen, south of Coffs Harbour.
The man was arrested just before 4pm in the backyard of a home in Bellingen, and was taken to Coffs Harbour police station.
There are no reports of injuries to himself or other members of the community.
The incident sparked a police operation in which police urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel to the area.
Bellingen local resident Henry Gale said it was mayhem when he drove into town.
"As I was just driving home this afternoon, six police cars on Waterfall Way fired past me. I was thinking something's going on," he said.
"By the time I'd reached Bello, people had lined the streets saying there was a gunman in town.
Several streets were blocked off by police in Bellingen during the operation.
