Trevor Leal charged after armed siege in Wollongong CBD faces court

The man charged following a five-hour stand-off with police in Wollongong allegedly involved a second man taken against his will. Here’s what occurred in court.

Berkeley man Trevor Leal has faced court charged over a five-hour stand-off with police near the Wollongong CBD. Picture: Facebook

A Berkeley man charged following a five-hour stand-off with police near the Wollongong CBD has opted not to apply for bail.

Trevor Leal is alleged to have been driving dangerously in Berkeley about 10am on Thursday.

The 25-year-old is alleged to have careered a white Toyota Corolla onto the wrong side of the road before ramming into a police car on Railway Pde, Wollongong.

Mr Leal allegedly fled from police in pursuit but then left the Corolla and ran into a unit complex on Bourke St where he held a man against his will.

Police alleged Mr Leal was armed with a shortened firearm and after he refused to leave the unit they established a perimeter around the complex.

Multiple police vehicles were on the scene throughout the stand-off. Picture: Darren Malone

Bourke St was cordoned off by officers and specialist police were called in, including the Tactical Operations Unit, Tactical Operations Region Support, State Technical Investigation Branch and Police Negotiators.

The man allegedly being held against his will was released unharmed about 2.30pm and half-an-hour later, Leal surrendered himself to police and was arrested without further incident.

Trevor Leal charged after five-hour police operation after siege at unit complex on Bourke Street, Wollongong. Picture: Darren Malone

Leal was taken to Wollongong Command and charged with nine offences including driving dangerously, possessing a shortened weapon, possessing a loaded weapon in public, detaining a person, preventing arrest, police pursuit, driving with out a license, and two counts of refusing to provide particulars to another driver.

In Wollongong Local Court on Friday, Leal was supported by five family members as his Legal Aid lawyer Paul Paine confirmed he would not be applying for bail.

The matter will return to the same court on Wednesday, November 23.