Robert Fitzgerald accused of running sophisticated alleged rug operation refused bail
Police claim they busted a man with thousands of dollars worth of drugs stuffed in a Nike bag, well as weapons and handcuffs, during a raid on his home. And that’s not all they allegedly uncovered.
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A Berkeley man allegedly “caught red-handed” with a Nike bag full of drugs during a raid on his home has been refused bail, with police accusing him of running a “sophisticated” drug supply operation.
Robert Fitzgerald, 36, was charged with 10 drugs and weapons offences on October 7, after police raided his Massey Street home in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
He faced Wollongong Local Court from the cells at Wollongong Police Station on Thursday, where Magistrate Sally McLaughlin refused his application for bail, noting he posed an “unacceptable” risk to the community.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege they caught Fitzgerald “red-handed” on Wednesday morning, finding him in possession of a Nike bag full of drugs and cash. Inside the bag, police allegedly found a total of 59.1 grams of meth, with a street value of between $20,000 and $30,000, and more than $9,600 cash.
On the bench where Fitzgerald was sitting when police swarmed the property, police allege they found seven ice pipes, a mobile phone, scales and a number of small zip lock bags, as well as two extendible batons and a slingshot.
Further searches on Fitzgerald’s house allegedly uncovered four “fairly new” mountain bikes with an estimated value of $5000 each, a homemade taser and pair of silver handcuffs.
In court on Thursday, police prosecutor Sergeant Shannon Ryan said it appeared Fitzgerald was running a “sophisticated, commercial drug operation”, after police allegedly found several drug ledgers at his home.
“One ledger contained amounts broken up into months and dates with values ranging from $3000 to $94,000 on a particular day,” police allege in court documents.
“This clearly shows the level of drug activity the accused is participating in”.
In the documents, police allege Fitzgerald had a “disdain” for police, and that he was
“accustomed to techniques to avoid detection while supplying drugs”.
Police allege Fitzgerald had an “extensive” surveillance system set up, including a laser beam alarm set up across the driveway, as well as an RF tracer bug and wireless camera detector which police allege is “commonly used by drug suppliers to detect police listening devices and covert cameras”.
On Thursday, Fitzgerald’s defence lawyer Matt Ward told the court his client had medical issues he needed treatment for outside custody and that Fitzgerald worried about his safety in custody.
“He was the victim of a shooting in 2015 and that person is serving a lengthy custodial sentence which is of concern to the applicant,” he said.
He also told the court his client suffered with addiction issues which he hoped to address if granted bail.
However, Magistrate McLaughlin denied the application, stating it appeared to be a strong prosecution case.
Fitzgerald, who was supported by his partner, will remain on remand in custody until he next appears before the court in December.