Joshua Pollard refused bail after allegedly pointing ‘gun’ at cops outside Wollongong train station
A man has fronted Wollongong Court after allegedly wielding two ‘guns’ at police at a busy train station on Monday, sparking a police operation.
Illawarra Star
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A man accused of sparking a major police operation in Wollongong on Monday after allegedly wielding two guns on a commuter-packed train platform has been refused bail.
Joshua Pollard, 28, faced Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, after he allegedly pointed a gun, later found to be fake, at several police officers near Wollongong Train Station on Monday afternoon.
In documents tendered to the court, police allege Pollard and a friend purchased two toy guns from a dollar store in Surry Hills that morning before travelling to Wollongong via train.
Once in Wollongong, Pollard and his friend walked to Wollongong’s GPT shopping centre before they were separated. Pollard allegedly returned to Wollongong station on his own when his “erratic behaviour” caught the attention of commuters.
It’s alleged one witness noticed blood dripping down Pollard’s face at the station and asked if he was okay. It’s alleged Pollard then asked him for a cigarette before he allegedly pulled out the two guns and said “get the police here so I can use this on them”.
Believing the guns were real, the witness contacted police who rushed to the scene.
In the documents police allege as they arrived in bulletproof vests, they saw commuters running from the train station in fear.
Armed police drew their weapons and approached Pollard, who was spotted with blood dripping down his face at the intersection of Station and Auburn streets allegedly holding a black gun in his hand.
Police allege they ordered him to drop the weapon, however he pointed it at the officers.
In the documents police allege he then dropped the gun to the ground, causing it to smash before he too laid on the ground.
Officers immediately arrested Pollard who began “ranting” at police, allegedly telling them “I was pointing a gun at you, you should have shot me in the head”.
Pollard was taken to Wollongong Police Station and charged with possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence before he was taken to hospital for a mental health assessment.
He was released on Tuesday before appearing in court Wednesday, where his lawyer told the court he suffered from schizophrenia and had missed his medication on the day of the alleged incident.
She argued he be released on bail, noting jail “would not be an ideal place” for someone with mental health issues.
However, Magistrate Jillian Kiely refused the bail application, stating Pollard posed a risk to the community, especially given the fact he had only missed his medication for one day.
“That is of particular concern to me,” she said.
She also noted Pollard had a lengthy interstate criminal record.
The matter will return to court later this month.