Telopea man Jeremiah Potger charged over rooftop standoff that shut down shopping centre denied bail
A Sydney man has made a bid for bail after allegedly breaking into a house and sparking a dramatic rooftop standoff that locked down a school and shopping centre in the city’s northwest.
A man who allegedly broke into someone’s house with a knife, sending a northwest Sydney school and shopping centre into lockdown on Tuesday was denied bail.
Telopea man Jeremiah Potger, 22, faced Burwood Court on Wednesday after being charged with entering a dwelling with intent to steal, and using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention.
Police allege in court documents that Potger broke into a house at 11.20am with the intent to steal.
However, he was allegedly caught red-handed and escaped to the rooftop of the Waratah shops at Benaud Place, where he refused to come down despite Ryde Police Area Command officers’ directions.
Police allege Potger, who the court heard was out on parole at the time for similar offences, was armed with a knife as he continuously refused to come down from the rooftop.
This forced police to establish a perimeter and lock down the nearby Telopea Public School and the shopping centre.
The tense standoff between police and Potger lasted until 3.45pm, when armed tactical police managed to get on to the roof.
Dramatic footage captured two officers subduing a shirtless Potger with nonlethal bullets.
In the video, a taser could be heard being deployed, causing Potger to shout out “stop”.
“I can’t breathe! I can’t f--king breathe!” he shouted as the two officers pinned him to the ground.
Potger was arrested and taken to Gladesville Police Station where he was charged.
In court on Wednesday, Potger’s lawyer applied for bail on his client’s behalf, stating his client has “a drug problem” and it would be better to seek help with a GP.
However, the police prosecutor pointed to Potger’s extensive criminal history when opposing the bail application.
“He’s had multiple sentences and imprisonments,” he said.
These include a variety of offences such as larceny, fraud, custody of a knife on two occasions, armed with intent, breaking and entering, and using an offensive weapon with intent.
Magistrate Joy Boulos refused Potger bail, stating he had been “caught effectively red-handed”.
“His record is lengthy, it’s extensive, he has a history of violence,” Ms Boulos said.
“He has a history of noncompliance.”
Potger will return to the same court on December 18 where Ms Boulos said a plea must be entered.
