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).