Loaded firearm seized; man charged – Heatherbrae

A man has been charged after a firearm, drugs and cash were located during a vehicle stop in the Hunter overnight.
About 11.15pm (Sunday 31 January 2021), police received information from a member of the public about a grey Ford Ranger with Queensland registration plates allegedly driving erratically on the Pacific Highway south of Taree.
The Ford – allegedly stolen from an address in Burleigh Heads, Queensland, last week – later stopped at a service station on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae, where officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attended and arrested the 44-year-old male driver.
Police conducted a search of the vehicle where they located a loaded shortened rifle underneath the driver’s seat, methylamphetamine, cannabis and cash.
The man was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with nine offences, including take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, possess shortened firearm without authority, possess loaded firearm in public place, not keep prohibited firearm safely, possess ammunition without licence, possess prohibited drug and suspected stolen goods in custody.
He was refused bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Monday 1 February 2021).