Man tackled in Wollongong cell after gun, drugs found in his undies

David Huynh, 26, hit speeds of 175kmh on his motorcycle - that had cardboard number plates - during a police pursuit through Kembla Grange about 10.30pm on July 15, 2023.

Police stopped the chase shortly before 11pm, but later found Huynh entering a fire trail at Cataract. He was searched before being taken to Wollongong police station where he tested positive to having meth in his system.

He was searched again once he was taken into a cell.

CCTV footage of the incident shows two correctives officers instructing Huynh to empty his pockets and take off his pants.

"What's that?" one correctives officer asked, pointing at Huynh's groin, but Huynh did not respond.

He was asked to put his hands above his head after he set off a metal detector, but nothing was found.

It was only after he was moved from a police cell into the custody of NSW Correctives Services - who have greater strip search powers - that a homemade gun, bullets and drugs were found in a pouch in Huynh's underwear.

Huynh was seated on the bed when the correctives officers noticed the pouch, sparking a dramatic scuffle in which one of the officers hit his head on the wall.

As the officers tackled Huynh to the ground, the pouch fell out of his undies.

"Wait until I get out ... I'm going to come back and get you," Huynh repeatedly yelled at the officers, while violently swinging his arms on the ground.

Police ran to the cell after hearing the commotion and handcuffed Huynh.

Officers picked up the pouch and found a homemade pistol inside, loaded with a single .22 long rifle calibre cartridge and eight .22 long rifle stinger calibre cartridges.

A small resealable bag with 3.51 grams of meth was also found.

Huynh faced Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to police pursuit, unlicensed driving, exceeding speed over 45kmh, and driving with an illicit drug present in his system.

He also admitted to possessing a prohibited drug, possessing ammunition without a permit, possessing an unauthorised firearm, and two counts of resisting an enforcement officer.

An assessment report was ordered ahead of Huynh's sentence date on April 10 to examine the circumstances surrounding his offending.