A tenth person has been charged as part of ongoing investigations into several public place shootings, assaults and other criminal activity on the state's South Coast.
About 11pm on Sunday 1 December 2019, officers attended View Street, Batehaven, following reports shots had been fired into the front window of a home. No one was injured.
In a second incident, about 1.40am on Monday 2 December 2019, police were called to the Kings Highway, Nelligen, about 10km north west of Batemans Bay, after reports shots had been fired into a home. No one was injured.
About 2am the same day, in a third incident, three men in a vehicle were approached by another three men – armed with firearms – at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Cranbrook Road, just south of Batemans Bay.
Police will allege one of the men was threatened and hit in the head with the back of a firearm following an altercation between the two groups, who were not known to each other. Three men later attended Batemans Bay Hospital before reporting the incident to police.
Detectives from South Coast Police District commenced initial inquiries into the incidents, which are being treated as targeted and linked, before detectives from the State Crime Command's Criminal Groups Squad took carriage of the investigation under Strike Force Essendene.
So far during the investigation, strike force detectives have charged nine people.
Following further inquiries, officers attended a correctional centre in Sydney's east and arrested a 27-year-old man yesterday (Monday 4 May 2020).
The Surfside man was charged with participate criminal group contribute criminal activity and three counts of supply firearm to person unauthorised to possess it.
It will be alleged in court that the man was involved in the supply of firearms – including a gun that was used in the public place shootings last year.
The man was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Wollongong Local Court via AVL today (Tuesday 5 May 2020).
Investigations under Strike Force Essendene are continuing.
Anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Essendene investigators is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
