A 23-year-old man has been charged following a police pursuit and the discovery of weapons in Merewether this afternoon.
Around 2:30 PM, officers from the Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling the Merewether area when they attempted to stop an Audi allegedly traveling at high speed. The driver failed to stop, prompting a pursuit that was quickly terminated due to safety concerns.
A short time later, Newcastle City Traffic and Highway Patrol officers located the Audi on Wilton Street, where it had crashed into a brick wall. The driver was arrested nearby after a brief foot chase.
During a search of the man and the vehicle, police reportedly seized a knife, a firearm, and a machete.
The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with multiple offenses, including:
- Police pursuit – fail to stop and drive dangerously
- Resisting police
- Possession of a firearm in breach of a prohibition order
- Possession of an unregistered and unauthorized pistol in public
- Failing to secure a firearm
- Failing to stop at a stop line
- Possession and use of prohibited weapons
- Custody of a knife in a public place
- Carrying a cutting weapon during apprehension
The man was refused bail and is scheduled to appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow, Tuesday, 21 January 2025.