Boronia shooting suspect Brendan Searle faces court

A man who sparked a major manhunt after allegedly shooting at police is withdrawing from drugs and needs to see a nurse, a court has been told.

A man who sparked a major manhunt after he allegedly fired a gun at police in Melbourne’s suburbs is withdrawing from methamphetamine and needs to see a nurse, a court has been told.

Brendan Searle handed himself in to police on Tuesday afternoon after he was named in a public appeal during a manhunt for allegedly firing a gun at police in Boronia in the early hours of November 6.

Mr Searle has been charged with 12 offences, including discharge a firearm reckless to safety of a police officer, reckless conduct endangering life and faced the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Brendan Searle appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Picture: Victoria Police

During the brief administrative hearing, his lawyer Natasha Wolan told the court there were some custody management issues.

Mr Searle was withdrawing from methamphetamine and had been diagnosed with acute anxiety, Ms Wolan said.

She asked Mr Searle be seen by a psychiatric nurse.

The 34-year-old man is also facing charges of attempted aggravated carjacking, threat to inflict serious injury, commit indictable offence while on bail and unlawful assault.

During the brief administrative hearing, his lawyer Natasha Wolan told the court he was withdrawing from drugs and needed to see a psychiatric nurse. Picture: Victoria Police

According to police, Mr Searle was allegedly involved in an altercation with a security guard at the Boronia Hotel where he was kicked out about 1am.

Police were called to an attempted carjacking near the hotel and Mr Searle fled, before officers caught up with the man at Tulip Crescent in Boronia.

It was during this standoff shots were allegedly fired at officers.

Specialist police swarmed the area and spent the day scouring the streets, with drivers stopped and checked.