A 24-year-old man will stay behind bars until at least next week after police allegedly found a modified pistol and a shortened firearm at a home at Warialda Rail, following a pursuit that ended with a car driving through a fence at Gilgai.
The man faces 14 charges, including acquiring a pistol while subject to a firearms prohibition order and failing to stop during a police pursuit.
About 2am on Friday, 23 October, officers from New England Police District were patrolling on Old Bundarra Road, Inverell, when they tried to stop a Holden sedan allegedly displaying incorrect registration plates.
Police allege the driver, a 24-year-old man, failed to stop as directed, and a pursuit began.
The pursuit continued to Gilgai, before it was called off for safety reasons.
Shortly after, police found the car in Gilgai, where the driver allegedly drove through a fence before driving off. The vehicle could not be found.
Following inquiries, police arrested a 24-year-old man at Warialda Police Station about 11am on Thursday, 5 November.
After further inquiries, about 1pm the same day, New England Police District officers carried out a Firearms Prohibition Order and Weapons Prohibition Order compliance search at a home on Bingara Road, Warialda Rail.
During the search, police allegedly found and seized a modified bolt-action pistol, a dismantled shortened firearm, and ammunition.
Later that day, police charged the man at Warialda Police Station with 14 offences:
- Possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority
- Possess unregistered firearm-pistol
- Possess shortened firearm (not pistol) without authority
- Not keep firearm safely-pistol
- Not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm
- Acquire etc pistol-subject to firearms prohibition order
- Acquire etc firearm – subject to prohibition order
- Acquire etc ammunition subject to prohibition order
- Police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously
- Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
- Use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road
- Use uninsured motor vehicle on road
- Licence expired within the last 2 years
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen (motor vehicle)
He was refused bail and appeared before Bail Division Court 5 on Friday, 6 November, where he was formally refused bail.
He is due to reappear before Moree Local Court on Monday, 16 November.
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