A MAN accused of firing a shot into the air at Kurri Kurri will face court on Thursday.
A man was taken into custody and a firearm was seized after a reported public place shooting in Kurri Kurri on Thursday.
The 40-year-old man was arrested on Lang Street shortly before 1.40pm after police were called to reports a man had discharged a gun into the air then fled into nearby bushland.
The arrest came after a large-scale search by officers from Hunter Valley Police District - with the assistance of PolAir and Operation Utah officers.
Police said they attended a nearby residence and found the rifle in a vehicle. They seized it and 16 other registered firearms as well as ammunition.
The man was taken to Cessnock Police Station. He was charged with use unauthorised firearm, steal firearm, not keep firearm safely-not prohibited firearm/pistol, use intimidation/violence to unlawfully influence person, and fire firearm in or near public place.
"Police will allege in court that the man, armed with a rifle, confronted trail bike riders in nearby bushland before discharging the firearm into the air," NSW Police said in a statement.
He was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court.
In the news
Heavy traffic after car, bus crash shuts Pacific Highway lanes
Engineers on scene after car crashes into Cessnock shopfront
