Grafton man shot by police at Coffs Harbour charged, refused bail: Critical incident investigation

A 29-year-old Grafton man who was taken to hospital after being shot in the right shoulder by police on the Pacific Highway near Coffs Harbour will front court on Saturday.

The 29-year old man who was shot by police on the Pacific Highway on Thursday has been charged with 30 offences after a critical incident investigation threw the mid-north coast into chaos.

Two crime scenes were established after a Grafton man was taken to hospital after being shot in the right shoulder on Thursday.

The man left hospital on Friday morning and was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with 13 counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug; seven counts of supplying an indictable quantity of a prohibited drug and six counts of supplying a small quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was also charged with two counts of recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime in excess of $5000; recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime equal to or less than $5000 and possessing a prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail and will front Port Macquarie Local Court on Saturday.

The investigation is still subject to an independent review.

How it unfolded

Assistant Police Commissioner Peter McKenna stated officers from the Northern Region Enforcement Squad (RES) conducted a targeted vehicle stop on a northbound vehicle on the Pacific Highway, south of the Stadium Drive intersection, at about 10.25am on Thursday.

As officers approached the vehicle, the man accelerated at police.

“The officer fired one round from his police issued firearm striking a 30-year-old Grafton male,” Mr McKenna said.

The man drove from the scene, with police initiating a pursuit northbound on the highway.

A Critical Incident at Coffs Harbour after police shot a man. Picture: Frank Redward.

A short time later, the vehicle stopped on Hogbin Drive and the man was arrested without incident.

He was taken to Coffs Harbour Health Campus in a stable condition with a shoulder injury and was under police guard.

A man was taken to hospital after being shot in the right shoulder after a special police operation on the Pacific Highway near Coffs Harbour on Friday, April 14. Picture: Sandra Moon

The police operation saw the road closed in both directions between Sawtell Rd in Boambee and Stadium Drive.

A critical incident investigation is now underway as the police operation continues.

Two crime scenes were established and a critical incident team from Mid North Coast Police District will investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.

Two crime scenes were established after a Grafton man was taken to hospital after being shot in the right shoulder during a special police operation on the Pacific Highway near Coffs Harbour. Picture: Frank Redward.

A Coffs Harbour Education Campus worker was among those nearby as the drama unfolded.

“I didn’t hear a gunshot but suddenly a lot of police cars and two ambulances arrived just outside the campus on Hogbin Drive,” she said.

“I thought it was a car accident and there was a focus on a red car. I thought it was a fatality.

“The two ambulances left but the red car stayed surrounded.”

Police on the scene seemed very tense.

Officers were trying to get the traffic - which was banked up halfway to the airport - moving quickly.

The Pacific Highway was closed northbound for several hours, with southbound traffic unaffected . Drivers experienced significant delays.