A 22-YEAR-OLD Bendigo man will face court today following an incident with a gun at the Newmarket Hotel’s bottle shop that led to three arrests.
The man will face charges including assault, assault with a weapon and a prohibited person in possession of a handgun.
Police allege three men went to the drive-through bottle shop about 4.30pm Saturday.
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Be ndigo Sergeant Bruce Simpson said an argument triggered a sawn-off gun being displayed.
“Three men attended at the drive-through at the Newmarket Hotel and they got into an argument with patrons,” Sergeant Simpson said.
“During that, one of the men has produced a firearm.
“They have then hopped in the car and left the scene.”
The incident triggered a police search, the closure of Murphy Street, the raid of a house and the arrest of three men.
“Because of some very good police work, three men were arrested in Murphy Street,” Sergeant Simpson said.
“A sawn-off firearm was located at a premises in Murphy Street and police interviewed three men.
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“One has been charged and remanded to appear in court (today).”
Neighbours stood in their yards during the Murphy Street closure and watched the arrests unfold.
Police arrested two men in the middle of the road and a third on the footpath.
Officers made the two men walk down Murphy Street with outstretched arms before forcing them to lay down on the road.
Police later moved the handcuffed men to the nature strip.
Newmarket Hotel publican Des Pedretti praised police and his staff for their response to the incident.
“Our boys handled it very, very well,” he said.
“Everyone was safe here - there was no attempt made on the Newmarket Hotel.
“It was between a couple of guys in the bottle shop.”
Sergeant Simpson said police were pleased to have retrieved the gun.
He said the assistance of the community led to prompt arrests.
“We were able to wrap it up fairly quickly,” Sergeant Simpson said.
“No one was hurt and the co-operation of witnesses was appreciated.”
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