David Christopher Laipato, 27, surrendered voluntarily and peacefully soon after 3pm once he had returned a five-month-old child to its mother.

There is no suggestion the baby was at risk of harm during the incident.

Mr Laipato was arrested, and appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning on charges of burglary, property damage, and assault arising from an incident last month. He has not been charged with any offences in relation to Tuesday's incident.

But the court heard he could be charged with drugs offences, after 39.9 grams of a substance suspected to be ice were found in his car.

Heavily armed officers swarmed Petterd Street in Page on Tuesday afternoon after police became aware Mr Laipato was at the property in breach of his bail conditions.

The court heard Mr Laipato had been banned from the property and from approaching the occupant – with whom he had a turbulent history – by court order in April.

A police informant, from the witness stand, said Mr Laipato had allegedly covered the woman's mouth and pulled out a knife in May.

On June 20, the informant said, Laipato allegedly forced entry to the property, damaging a door, before arguing with the woman and assaulting her.

The informant alleged Mr Laipato had also lived at the property for a month in breach of his bail conditions.

Police could not locate Mr Laipato until a patrol spotted him driving in Page on Tuesday.

They discovered the car empty soon after and found him at the Page address.

Armed specialist response police were called as a precaution, the court heard.

The informant indicated Mr Laipato could face drug charges once the crystalline substance, suspected to be ice, located in his car had been tested.

Mr Laipato applied for bail before Magistrate Robert Cook on Wednesday.

But his release was opposed by prosecutor Sam McLaughlin, who argued Mr Laipato posed a risk of reoffending, interfering with witnesses, and breaching bail.

Defence lawyer Paul Edmonds told the court his client had been at the house at the woman's request, so she could go to the cinema.

Mr Edmonds said the arrangements for Mr Laipato to see his son had collapsed and he felt the only way he could see the child had been to attend the Page home.

Mr Edmonds said his client was willing to abide by stricter and more onerous bail conditions if granted conditional liberty.

But Mr Cook refused bail, saying it was Mr Laipato's responsibility to abide by bail conditions.

"Whatever [the woman] might say is irrelevant," Mr Cook said.

The magistrate said Mr Laipato should have applied to the court for a bail variation, instead of ignoring his conditions.

Mr Laipato will reappear next month.