A 21-year-old man will face court after allegedly possessing an unregistered firearm in Belmont on Thursday.
Police say the man was spotted by officers as they were passing on the Pacific Highway at around 2pm, noticing a man holding a pistol.
Officers say they approached the man, where he resisted arrest.
A search of the man uncovered a modified gel blaster.
Lake Macquarie Commander, Superintendent Danny Sullivan APM, said police treat imitation weapons as real firearms to ensure community safety.
“Imitation firearms can often be hard to distinguish from the real deal, as they are modelled closely on real weapons," he said.
“If a weapon looks real, officers will treat it as authentic until such a time that the weapon can be analysed – public safety will always come first,” Supt Sullivan said.
The man was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with offences including possessing an unregistered firearm and resisting arrest. He was refused bail and faces Belmont Local Court today.
