A man will face court today after brandishing a firearm during a shoplifting offence near Lake Macquarie.

Around 11.30pm last night (Monday 21 December 2015), police were contacted after a man threatened staff at a service station on Freemans Drive at Freemans Waterhole. The man had allegedly pointed a firearm at staff members after they confronted him over alleged shop-lifting offences. He left the location in a white Holden ute a short time later.

Police attended the service station and spoke to staff, before conducting a search for the man.

A short time later, police found a white utility parked in bushland near the M1 Motorway. Upon seeing police approach, a man ran from the ute into the bush. He was arrested a short time later.

Police searched the bushland and found a replica firearm nearby.

The man, aged 33, was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with a number of offences, including:

– Armed with intent to commit indictable offence;

– Assault;

– Four counts of stalk/intimidate;

– Numerous firearm-related offences; and,
– Numerous driving offences.

Bail refused, he is due before Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 22 December 2015).

Detectives have charged a man following investigations into the disappearance of a woman in Tamworth earlier this year.

Strike Force Chiltern, comprising detectives from Oxley Local Area Command, was established to investigate the disappearance Johann Morgan, who was reported missing to police Sunday 16 August 2015.

Investigations led police to arrest a 45-year-old man at Dubbo yesterday (Monday 21 December 2015).

Detectives attended a home on Yulong Street shortly before 7.30pm where they arrested the man and conveyed him to Dubbo Police Station where he was interviewed.

He was then charged with murder.

He was refused bail and will appear in Dubbo Local Court today (Tuesday 22 December 2015).

Inquiries continue.