Accused’s strange Instagram posts during 10-hour siege

A man has been charged with multiple firearm offences following an hours-long police operation in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

A man charged over a 10-hour siege in Sydney’s eastern suburbs accused NSW Police of “terrorizing Coogee” in a series of bizarre videos recorded and published to his social media accounts.

Max Freedom Pollard was arrested and charged with multiple firearm offences following the hours-long stand-off with police on Tuesday after tactical officers swarmed the Dudley St, Randwick apartment complex just before 11 am.

The siege lasted for nearly 10 hours, with drones, chainsaws, and heavily armed officers deployed around the apartment block.

In a series of videos posted to his Instagram profile during the “raid”, Pollard filmed himself accusing officers of deploying snipers “which has been scaring the entire community”, before recording several interactions with officers.

Police operation at Dudley St in Randwick on Tuesday. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Tactical police arrive at the scene. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“Attached are clips from NSW police’s unsuccessful raid on my top floor apartment in Coogee,” the 31-year-old said. “They’re doing their best and still trying as I type this.

“They’re terrorizing Coogee, attacking and avoiding Australia’s Judiciary and the Commonwealth Government, and bragging about it.”

Screenshots from Max Pollard's Instagram post show the police at the apartment block.

Screenshots from Max Pollard's Instagram post.

In one video tactical police can be seen in the stairwell of the apartment complex, while in another Pollard records an interaction with a sniper perched on a nearby rooftop.

“The sniper rifle is a little intimidating, I’m not going to lie,” he told the officer before claiming he had no firearms.

The officer told him “we’re here for you” before advising him to leave the apartment complex.

Screenshots from Max Pollard's Instagram post show police on a roof.

Screenshots from Max Pollard's Instagram post

In another recording, understood to have been filmed on Tuesday, a male and female officer enter the apartment asking him “for a chat”.

The officer told the man they were there as a result of a welfare check, before telling Pollard his neighbour had accused him of sending concerning “text messages and WhatsApp messages”.

An armed NSW Police officer. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The officer issued Pollard a notice to vacate the building before he accused them of “committing crime”.

In the video to his 24 followers, Pollard accuses the officers of entering “the confessional” before claiming he was being framed.

Just after 8.20pm on Wednesday, police entered the unit and arrested the man before allegedly seizing two unauthorised firearms and a ballistic vest.

The siege lasted for a number of hours. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The 31-year-old was charged with a series of firearm offences, including possession of unauthorised pistols and prohibited firearms, and failure to keep firearms safely.

He was refused bail and is set to appear at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

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