A man has been charged with multiple driving and firearm offences following a carjacking incident on Monday.
About 4pm Monday (12 June 2023), police were called to a shopping centre carpark in Charlestown, following reports a man had allegedly threatened three people with a firearm before stealing their vehicle.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District arrived and conducted a search of the area, however, were unable to locate the vehicle.
Police established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident.
Following extensive inquires police arrested a 32-year-old man in North Lambton, yesterday (14 June 2023). During the arrest the man allegedly aimed a firearm at police.
Tactical Operations Unit police assisted in the arrest. The man was conveyed to hospital in a stable condition.
Police also executed a search warrant on a home in North Lambton. During the search police found clothing and items believed to be illicit substances which have been sent of for further forensic examination.
The 32-year-old man was then taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with:
- Acquire prohibited firearm subject prohibition order
- Acquire unregistered firearm prohibited firearm
- Possess loaded firearm public place
- Not keep firearm safely prohibited firearm
- Armed with intention to commit indictable offence
- Police pursuit not stop drive recklessly
- Threaten injury to person with intention to prevent lawful detention
- Possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place
- Not keep firearm safely pistol
- Robbery while armed with dangerous weapon
- Acquire pistol subject to firearms prohibition order
- Possess ammunition without holding license/permit/authority
- Acquire ammunition subject to prohibition order
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen
Police will allege in court the man also threatened another man in Edgeworth with a firearm before fleeing the scene.
The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 15 June 2023).