Man charged after pursuit finishes with police car rolling at Wickham, Newcastle

A man has been charged with gun, drug and traffic offences while a motorcyclist and police officers have escaped serious injury after a crash involving an allegedly stolen SUV in Newcastle caused a cop car to roll.

A police vehicle has ended up on its side at Islington following a pursuit through suburban Newcastle. Picture: Supplied

Police have allegedly seized a loaded gun and drugs from a stolen SUV after it was involved in a collision with a motorcyclist and a police car, causing the patrol vehicle to roll onto its side.

Aaron James Forster, 26, has been charged with 11 offences after being arrested on Albert St at Wickham on Tuesday night following an alleged pursuit through numerous Newcastle suburbs.

The chase is alleged to have began on Acacia Ave, Waratah about 30 minutes prior to the crash.

It ended near the Wickham Park Hotel and adjacent to the busy Maitland Rd about 6.30pm where police allege the Ford Everest SUV was driven through a red light and collided with a motorcycle.

The rider, a 27-year-old man, suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.

The intersection of Maitland Rd and Albert St, near the Wickham Park Hotel. Picture: Google Maps.

“The vehicle allegedly continued to Albert Street where it collided with a police vehicle, causing the police vehicle to roll onto its side,” police said in a statement.

“ No police officers were injured.

Aaron James Forster, 27, faced Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday. (File picture)

“The stolen vehicle was immobilised as a result of the crash and the driver and passenger ran from the car.”

Forster, who police allege was the passenger in the car which had been stolen from Cooks Hill earlier in the day, was arrested after a short foot pursuit.

Police will allege Forster through a backpack away during the foot chase.

A search of the backpack allegedly revealed a shortened firearm, $2175 cash, and amounts of methamphetamine and cannabis.

Forster was taken to Newcastle police station where he was charged with 11 offences including possessing a shortened firearm without authority, possessing a loaded firearm public place, not keeping a firearm safely, using, supplying, acquiring or possessing a stolen firearm or part, possessing an unauthorised firearm, having goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, being carried in conveyance taken without the consent of the owner, hindering or resisting police in the execution of their duty, and three counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

He faced Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday where he unsuccessfully applied for bail.

Magistrate Gregory Moore remanded Forster in custody and he will reappear on January 29.

Newcastle City police continue to hunt the alleged driver and senior police will address the media on Wednesday afternoon.