A man has been charged with traffic, drug and firearm offences following a pursuit and crash in Newcastle yesterday.
Shortly after 6pm (Tuesday 14 January 2025), police attempted to stop a Ford Everest on Acacia Avenue, Waratah, which had been reported stolen from a Cooks Hill address earlier in the day.
When the vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued throughout several suburbs of Newcastle, before allegedly driving through a red traffic light at the intersection of Fern Street and Maitland Road, Wickham, colliding with a motorcycle.
The motorcycle rider – a 27-year-old man – suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.
The vehicle allegedly continued to Albert Street where it collided with a police vehicle, causing the police vehicle to roll onto its side. No police officers were injured.
The stolen vehicle was immobilised as a result of the crash and the driver and passenger ran from the car.
Following a foot pursuit, police arrested the passenger – a man aged 26 – on Albert Street, Wickham.
Prior to the man's arrest, he allegedly discarded a backpack nearby.
A subsequent search of the backpack allegedly revealed a shortened firearm, $2175 cash, and amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis.
He was taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with 11 offences:
- Possess shortened firearm without authority,
- Possess loaded firearm public place,
- Not keep firearm safely,
- Use, supply, acquire, possess stolen firearm or part,
- Possess unauthorised firearm,
- Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen,
- Be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner,
- Hinder or rest police in the execution of duty, and
- Three counts of possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 15 January 2025).
Investigations are continuing to locate the driver.
