Police have charged a man after startled bystanders allegedly saw him walking through Wollongong armed with knives.
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After receiving reports from the public, police caught up with Braidyn Sturegeon as he walked eastward on the Princes Highway at the intersection of Osborne Street, about 1.10pm Friday.
They found him bare-chested, holding something in his hand.
Police grabbed his right arm and opened his hand, allegedly revealing two knives – one a fold-out with a 7cm blade, the other an 8cm kitchen knife blade that had been inserted into a home-made sheath made from white electrical tape.
Police seized the knives and placed the 19-year-old, of Mangerton, under arrest.
He told them, “I have been stabbed before”, according to a police account of events considered by Wollongong Local Court on Saturday.
Police allegedly found two small screwdrivers – one inside a home-made white sheath – when searching his bag.
They also allegedly found a glass ice pipe in Sturegeon’s pants pocket and six multicoloured marker pens in his bag. He allegedly said the pens were “just for tagging and s---”.
Sturegeon was charged with possessing graffiti implements with intent, possessing housebreaking implements and custody of a knife in a public place.
He was granted bail on Saturday morning, to return to court November 20.