“The amount of guns I’ve seen in the last three to four weeks in Shepparton is astonishing.”
Those were the words of a Shepparton police officer as he gave evidence in a bail application at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court this week.
Shepparton Crime Investigation Unit Senior Constable Harrison Davis told the court police found a gun in the boot of a car that had driven on the wrong side of the road and turned its lights off as the driver tried to outrun police on Friday night.
Troy Joachim, 27, of Shepparton, is facing charges including driving in a dangerous manner while pursued by police, possessing a firearm while a prohibited person, possessing cartridge ammunition, drug trafficking, drug possession, retention of stolen goods, failing to stop on police direction, disqualified driving, drug driving, committing an indictable offence while on bail and contravening a bail condition.
No pleas have been entered to any of the charges, and Mr Joachim unsuccessfully applied for bail in Shepparton Magistrate’s Court.
Sen Constable Davis told the court police spotted a black Volkswagen Golf in Poplar Ave, Shepparton, just after 10pm on Friday, that they say was being driven by Mr Joachim.
When police attempted to stop the car in Archer St, it drove off on them, crossing to the wrong side of the road and turning its headlights off, Sen Constable Davis said.
Police allege the car came close to hitting another vehicle in Dennis St and called off the pursuit by the police car.
The court heard the Police Air Wing, which was in town for a police operation that weekend, was used instead to follow the Golf until it pulled into a property in Poplar Ave and Mr Joachim ran inside a house used by orchard workers.
He was found by police hiding behind a couch inside the house, with 8g of methamphetamines, $1210 and drug paraphernalia behind the couch close to him, Sen Constable Davis said.
The court was told when police searched the Golf, they found a stolen double-barrel shotgun in the boot, as well as cartridge ammunition and a gun scope.
Mr Joachim, who is prohibited from possessing firearms, denied knowledge of the gun being there.
The court heard that when interviewed by police, Mr Joachim said the gun belonged to Stanley Turvey, who was shot dead by police after a three-day manhunt throughout northern Victoria in late September.
Sen Constable Davis said police did not believe him when he told them this and maintained the gun — which was one of two stolen from near Swan Hill — was in the possession of Mr Joachim.
In questioning by Mr Joachim’s solicitor Ian Michaelson, Sen Constable Davis said another man, whom police had charged with dangerous driving the same weekend as Mr Joachim — and who had been kept in the same area of the Shepparton police cells — had claimed ownership of the gun.
That man told police he had taken the vehicle to Melbourne, got the gun, and didn’t tell Mr Joachim.
Sen Constable Davis said police did not believe this version of events either and alleged the other man had been coerced into claiming ownership through threats or the offer of a reward.
The court was told the gun had been sent to a forensics unit for fingerprinting and to have DNA analysis.
Sen Constable Davis said the fingerprint results could take a month, but DNA analysis could stretch to six months.
Mr Michaelson argued his client should be bailed because of delays in the case, mainly from obtaining DNA evidence on the gun.
He also argued the drugs were not found on Mr Joachim in the house.
The court also heard that in separate, earlier incidents, Mr Joachim had sped off on police on March 23 after they tried to pull him over while driving a Mercedes, and that on August 23, he rode off on police on a road bike after they tried to stop him.
The court also heard two bank cards were taken from a car in June 2022 and used to make two $1000 withdrawals from an ATM.
The bankcards were found in Mr Joachim’s bedroom during a search by police.
Magistrate David Faram refused bail, remanding Mr Joachim in custody to appear in court later in October.