AP/ November 13, 2012, 5:58 AM

Prince Charles, Camilla escape horse manure attacker thanks to New Zealand police

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a Diamond Jubilee Trust reception and dinner at the SkyCity Convention Centre on November 12, 2012 in Auckland, New Zealand. / Getty Images

AUCKLAND, New ZealandPolice say they caught a New Zealand man before he had a chance to throw a bucket of horse manure over Prince Charles and his wife Camilla during a royal visit to the Pacific nation.

Castislav "Sam" Bacanov, 76, pleaded not guilty in an Auckland court Tuesday to planning a crime in a public place. He has agreed under his bail conditions to keep at least 1,600 feet from the royal couple.

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Charles and Camilla in the Outback

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are on a six-day tour of New Zealand, the last leg of their Pacific tour marking Queen Elizabeth II's 60th Jubilee.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said officers arrested Bacanov, a known anti-royalist, on Monday near a downtown Auckland venue where Charles and Camilla were due to appear. She said the royal couple had not yet arrived at the outdoor venue and were never in any danger.

Hegarty said officers were making sure the area was safe when they noticed the man with the bucket.