A man who claims to have worked for Harvard University and wrote his own translation of the New Testament has filmed his 10-hour standoff with eastern suburbs police, who allege he was in possession of illegal firearms.
In bizarre videos posted to his social media pages, Max Freedom Pollard captured the moment tactical police and snipers surrounded his Coogee apartment when he refused to come out after a concern for welfare call.
A police officer wearing tactical gear and carrying a gun is seen in the stairwell. Credit: Instagram
“It’s all to cover up the fact that I caught two local police officers committing crime yesterday,” the 31-year-old says in a video posted to Instagram.
Pollard seems to be referring to an earlier incident where officers told him he must leave the Coogee apartment he was renting, which he calls his “confessional”, because the landlord had evicted him.
He claims to be the “steward of his own church”.
“I told these officers you cannot commit a crime, you cannot enter a confessional and tenants have rights,” he says.
Armed police in tactical gear can be seen in footage recorded from the Dudley Street apartment building’s stairwell. Police were first called to the building at 10.40am on Tuesday.
In another video recorded by Pollard from the roof of the building, he speaks with a police sniper positioned on the roof of the opposite building.
“Are you OK? Do you need help?” Pollard asks.
The police officer tells Pollard he should leave the building.
“We are here for you, we are concerned for your welfare so go out the front,” the officer says.
Pollard then responds: “The sniper rifle is a little intimidating I’m not going to lie.
“To be clear I have no firearms … I had them and gave them up because I don’t want firearms.”
Pollard claims on his LinkedIn profile to have worked for Harvard University in the US, as a staff member for the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission (ACIC), and as a “security equipment specialist”. He also wrote his own translation of the New Testament which “restores original meaning” to the text.
Police at the Dudley Street siege. Credit: Janie Barrett
A spokesperson for the ACIC said Pollard “is not and never has been an Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission staff member.”
Pollard was eventually arrested at 8.20pm on Tuesday and taken to Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment.
During a search of the apartment, police allege they found two firearms and a ballistic vest.
He was taken to Maroubra police station after being discharged from hospital later that night where he was charged with possessing an unauthorised pistol, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm, not keeping the firearms safely and possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit.
Pollard faced Waverley Local Court on Wednesday, when he was refused bail. An interim apprehended domestic violence order was also made against him for the protection of a woman.
No pleas have been entered, and the case returns to court in November.
Crisis support can be found at Lifeline (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and beyondblue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au).
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