A Lake Illawarra policeman lived every officer's worst nightmare when a loaded gun was allegedly pointed at his chest during an arrest, a court heard yesterday.
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Marion Emily Groshe, 21, of Port Kembla is accused of aiming a sawn-off .22 calibre shotgun at an officer on Wednesday night, just minutes after the car in which she was a passenger rammed a police vehicle.
Co-accused Michael Stephen Black, 25, of Mt Annan, allegedly backed into the unmarked detectives' car before leading police on a daring pursuit.
A witness spotted the pair arguing at a Warrawong unit block about 9pm on Wednesday and saw Black appearing to hide a firearm in the garden, Wollongong Local Court heard yesterday.
When police arrived at the scene the two were sitting in a white Holden Commodore station wagon in the driveway, facts before the court said.
Police claim Black reversed the car towards police vehicles, ramming the front of a detectives' car before driving down Shellharbour Rd.
Officers gave chase, pursuing the car to Tom Brown Pde, Kemblawarra, where it pulled up in a driveway, allowing police to remove and handcuff Black, the facts said.
When police attempted to speak to Groshe, who was sitting in the passenger's seat, she allegedly grabbed a sawn-off .22 calibre rifle from the dashboard and pointed it at the officer's chest before being dragged from the car and arrested.
According to the facts, the firearm had one round in the chamber and a magazine with 11 rounds.
The police officer was taken to Shellharbour Hospital and treated for a hand injury.
Black was searched and found to have an empty magazine in his pocket, police allege.
He was charged with starting a police pursuit (Skye's Law), having a loaded gun and ammunition, being an unlicensed driver and driving an unregistered or uninsured car.
Groshe was charged with having a loaded gun, having a shortened weapon and assault.
Opposing bail, police prosecutor Sergeant Seleena Gillmore told the court staring down the barrel of a loaded gun was any emergency service officer's "worst nightmare".
Although Groshe had no prior criminal history, Sgt Gillmore said the incident had been extremely serious and the community's safety had to be protected.
Legal Aid solicitor Melea Mullard said Groshe could offer a surety and report to police daily.
She said Black was reeling from a recent death in the family and if released on bail could offer a $500 surety and also report daily to police.
Magistrate Michael Stoddart refused bail and adjourned both matters to August 29.
