Peter James Ryan: Binnaway man applies for bail after allegedly shooting at police near Coonabarabran

A man has applied for bail after police were allegedly shot at during a standoff in the state’s central west. Here’s the details.

Dubbo Police Station. Picture: Ryan Young

A man has offered up his $200,000 house as a surety in a bid to be bailed in court after allegedly firing towards police near Coonabarabran.

Peter James Ryan, 58, appeared in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday after he was arrested at his home in Binnaway on Wednesday night.

According to documents tendered to court, Ryan is alleged to have made numerous calls to Warrumbungle Shire Council (WSC) between February 2020 to October 2022.

As a result, the council began documenting these alleged calls, saying they were either “aggressive, abusive or threatening”.

On October 31 this year, Ryan is alleged to have called the council’s Coonabarabran office, speaking with an employee and allegedly “swearing about his water bill”.

“[Ryan] stated he had paid his water bill to the sheriff and that he did not owe council money for the water,” court documents state.

Peter James Ryan was denied bail in Dubbo Local Court on Thursday.

After the employee attempted to explain there was still a payment to be made, Ryan is alleged to have become more agitated and aggressive, allegedly saying “I’ve paid my f**king water”.

The employee told Ryan to stop swearing, prompting the 58-year-old to allegedly respond, “I’m sick of this, I’m going to come and f**king shoot all you c**ts”.

The phone call ended and police were later notified about the incident with the employee saying she felt “a little scared for her safety”.

A few days later on November 2, police attended Ryan’s home in Binnaway about 8.53am and they attempted to arrest the man after he allegedly retreated into his house.

Police withdrew from the house after allegedly hearing “a rifle being actioned” with Ryan allegedly saying he was going to “neutralise the police”.

Ryan made a number of demands to police, including access to the media and a high-ranking police officer.

A friend of Ryan’s later told police he could be in possession of a .22 rifle, fitted with a silencer and scope along with a .410 single barrel shotgun, each with ammunition.

Negotiations between police and Ryan continued into the evening and about 6.30pm specialist officers, fitted with ballistic shields, entered the front yard with the intention of turning off the power.

Ryan allegedly said “don’t do it” as the cover was lifted by police to the metre box and the power turned off.

The sound of a rifle being fired was allegedly heard as police later inspected the ballistic shield which was allegedly found to have been impacted by a small calibre projectile.

Following further negotiations, Ryan allegedly exited the house and was arrested by police and examined by paramedics. He was taken to Dubbo police station and entered into custody.

He was charged with 11 offences, including use carriage service to threaten serious harm, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm, use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention etc, discharge firearm with intent to resist arrest, fire firearm manner likely injure persons/property, use unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, possess ammunition without holding licence/permit/authority, and intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.

A crime scene was established at Ryan’s home and on Thursday morning, an initial inspection saw police allegedly find three firearms on his bed.

These firearms include a prohibited .22 calibre rifle, a .410 gauge single barrel shotgun and .303 calibre rifle along with ammunition and magazines.

Peter James Ryan will appear in Coonabarabran Local Court on January 20 next year. Photo: Google Maps

Police will allege a small hole was observed in the wire gauze of the front screen door, “consistent with a small calibre projectile”.

According to police, Ryan obtained a shooter’s licence in 1989 with it expiring in 1992.

It was later revealed at the time of the arrest, Ryan was feeling depressed due to the anniversary of his son’s death by suicide approximately 12 months ago.

On Thursday, Ryan’s lawyer Joseph Harding applied for bail, saying his client was “willing to put [his house] up a surety”.

Mr Harding said Ryan’s property is valued at around $200,000 and he has “access to title deeds”.

The court heard Ryan’s 89-year-old mother is unwell and “he needs to be at liberty to offer support for her”.

Mr Harding detailed his client’s struggles with his own health, saying he is “mentally not well” and struggling with depression and suicidal ideation.

“It will certainly make any time spent in custody more onerous,” Mr Harding said.

“It is also submitted that strict bail conditions that will have a restriction on his liberty will go some distance … curfews and reporting conditions.”

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton found Mr Harding had proven why Ryan should be bailed.

“[He is] charged with a number of serious charges, the most serious being discharging [a] firearm,” Magistrate Hamilton said.

“I accept what has been said about mental health issues … [but] it doesn’t provide much safety to the community.”

Magistrate Hamilton told the court Ryan had previously been convicted of firearm offences and due to the seriousness of the new offence, “cause has not been shown” and he was denied bail.

The matter was adjourned to Coonabarabran Local Court on January 20.