Thomas Merritt charged after Dubbo arrest

A NSW Central West man has been arrested and charged with possessing an unlicensed firearm and alleged domestic violence offences. Here’s what happened in court.

Dubbo Police Station. Picture: Ryan Young

Police have seized a shortened firearm and charged a young man with multiple serious offences after engaging him in a brief foot chase in the state’s west on Sunday.

Orana Mid-Western Police District officers were called to Bramlea St, Dubbo, about 2.25am on Sunday, for a noise complaint when they saw a man known to them walking down the street.

When police approached Thomas Merritt, 25, he allegedly ran away but was arrested after a short foot pursuit.

Merritt was refused bail at Dubbo Bail Court on Sunday, and then refused to appear on screen at Dubbo Local Court on Monday after his case was adjourned.

He has now been charged with intimidation, reckless grievous bodily harm in company, affray, causing grievous bodily harm to person with intent, contravening an AVO, and destroying or damaging property under $2000.

He was further charged with possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing a shortened firearm without authority, not keeping a firearm safe, possessing an unregistered firearm, possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place, possessing ammunition without authority, and hindering or resisting police.

No pleas were entered.

Merritt’s matter was adjourned again to give him an opportunity to provide instructions to a solicitor.

He is due to appear in court again on Wednesday.