A “PERSON of interest” in the hunt for a gunman who fired shots into a Mt Austin home last week has been arrested in dramatic fashion on the Hume Highway.
Police recovered firearms from the car, driven by a 30-year-old Wagga man, after pulling it over near Table Top at about 11.30am on Wednesday.
A silver Hyundai with P-plates was pulled over in what police described as a “high risk vehicle stop” about 11.30am.
Police - possibly with guns drawn - demanded the Wagga man and two 19-year-old women slowly exit the vehicle one by one.
Detective Acting Inspector Phil Malligan confirmed the man was a “person of interest” in relation to a shot fired into a Mt Austin home in the early hours of last Wednesday morning.
“Wagga Police are eager to speak with him,” he said.
“This is a significant arrest.”
He said the arrest was part of a co-ordinated effort between Wagga, Albury and Griffith local area commands.
Inspector Anthony Moodie from Albury Police said officers had received information before targeting the car.
“As it turned out, there were firearms in the car,” he said.
“That information made it quite high risk for us.
“The vehicle was stopped.
“A number of (police) called on the occupants one by one to remove themselves from the vehicle, at which time they were arrested.”
The car was towed to Albury police station for inspection and to determine if there were any other weapons onboard.
“We’ve taken a number of guns that were clearly in sight,” Inspector Moodie said.
The car was intercepted near the Ettamogah Rail Hub.
The left hand lane of the highway was closed as officers loaded the trio into police vehicles before taking them to the police station.
About 10 police cars sped to Table Top after reports the southbound car was carrying firearms
At least two more police cars from Wodonga had been urgently called to the scene but were turned around once Albury police had the matter under control.
