Steven Pavleski: Hampton 7-Eleven arrest after shotgun, ammo allegedly found in Uber
A man accused of hiding a gun and shells in a ride share car late at night during the pandemic lockdown has applied to be bailed.
South East
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A man allegedly caught busting Covid curfew, with a gun and cartridge rounds in the back of an Uber, has fronted court.
Steven Pavleski has been accused of hiding the firearm and ammunition in an Uber during the pandemic lockdown last year.
He was also wanted by police on a series of warrants for drug and driving charges as well as allegedly failing to turn up for court.
The unemployed, homeless, 50-year-old appeared via video link at the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
Police informant Senior Constable Andy Yap said officers came across an Uber with a back seat passenger parked outside Hampton 7-Eleven about 12.40am, on August 16, last year.
The court heard officers were suspicious because it was during the lockdown and people shouldn’t have been out past curfew.
As they approached the car they say they saw Mr Pavleski in the back fidgeting around on the floor.
They asked him to get out of the car and they allegedly found he had deal bags, a ‘tick book’ of drug debts, scales and a bag of ice in his backpack.
When they searched the back of the Uber, officers allegedly uncovered two bags containing a sawn-off shotgun in three pieces and 13 cartridges for a 12-gauge shotgun.
Police believe the weapon, which had been stolen from a farm in 1999, could be used like a pistol to fire shotgun rounds.
Mr Pavleski made a no comment interview at the time and was bailed.
He is also charged with a series of other offences including drug, careless and dangerous driving, drug possessions, proceeds of crime, bail and court order breaches.
Sen-Constable Yap told the court the address Mr Pavleski had provided to them as to where he would be living if bailed was not suitable as it had links to numerous criminal offenders.
His defence lawyer said his client had no priors and the weapon had yet to be properly analysed.
He said there were questions over the delay before Mr Pavleski could get a contested hearing, and he had been approved for a court support program where he would be heavily supervised while out in the community.
Magistrate Greg Connellan said the seriousness of the firearm charge and the dubious bail address meant he would pose too much of a risk to be released now.
“The risks can’t be mitigated,” Mr Connellan said.
“At 12.40am in an Uber possessing a firearm with ammunition is a very serious set of allegations.
“And there are concerns over that residential address.”
Mr Pavleski was remanded in custody and will face court again at a later date.
