Alleged armed man charged after Bellingen after police hunt

A man who was allegedly threatening people with a firearm on the NSW Mid-North Coast has been charged with 10 offences.

A man has been charged following a fast-paced long range police operation on the state’s Mid North Coast yesterday.

Just before 12.45pm on Friday, police responded to the Bowraville area, after reports a man, armed with a firearm, was threatening people.

Police were told the man was driving a Mazda 323 and travelling between Bowraville and Macksville.

Further inquiries revealed he had driven north, with sightings reported in Nambucca Heads and Bellingen.

The Mazda was found abandoned at Bellingen about 3.45pm and officers attached to Mid North Coast and Coffs/Clarence Police Districts established a perimeter.

With the assistance of the Dog Unit, a 27-year-old man was arrested just before 4pm, in the backyard of a home on Coronation St, Bellingen.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police allegedly recovered a firearm.

The Macksville man was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station and charged with four counts of assault officer in execution of duty; use etc offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence; possess unregistered unauthorised prohibited firearm in public place; not keep firearm safely-not pistol/prohibited firearm; possess unauthorised firearm; stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (domestic); and never licensed person drive vehicle on road – prior offence

He was was refused bail to appear at Port Macquarie Local Court on April 9.

Police search a vehicle in Bellingen's town centre, believed to belong to a man in custody after he was allegedly seen threatening residents with a firearm in Macksville and Bowraville.

There are no reports of injuries, including to members of the public.

Earlier, there were several eyewitness reports of the vehicle being spotted at various locations throughout the Nambucca Valley, south of Coffs Harbour, and at Bellingen.

It is understood a number of locations are now being searched following the man’s arrest.

It is understood the alarm was first raised after the man allegedly bearing a firearm was seen in Macksville, south of Nambucca Heads.

“A police operation is underway in Macksville, following reports a man armed with a firearm has threatened a number of persons,” NSW Police said on Twitter.

“He is believed to be travelling between Bowraville and Macksville in a gold Mazda 323.”

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.