Man Seized With Illegal Weapons Cache After Violent Altercation, Police Raid Property In Port Pirie

Port Pirie, Australia— Police seized a collection of illegal weapons Wednesday after a violent altercation at a rural property prompted officers to search the premises and detain a man.

Mid-North Police were called to a house on the outskirts of Port Pirie at 2:10 p.m. after neighbors reported shouting and a man wielding a metal bar. Two men had argued over a boundary fence. The argument turned physical.

One man suffered head injuries and was taken to Port Pirie Hospital. The other, 47, retreated inside. When police arrived, they found him agitated and refusing to open the door. Officers forced entry after 15 minutes.

Inside, police found an array of illegal weapons. The haul included three unregistered shotguns, a sawn-off rifle, six knives, two crossbows, and more than 200 rounds of ammunition. Some weapons were loaded. Others were hidden under floorboards.

Inspector John Harwood said the property was not licensed to store firearms. He said the firearms were not secured in a safe. The collection posed a serious risk to the community. Police also found drug paraphernalia on a kitchen bench.

The man was arrested at the scene. He was charged with assault causing harm, possession of unregistered firearms, possession of a prohibited weapon, and failure to store ammunition correctly. Police said he has a history of firearm offences.

Forensic officers spent four hours cataloguing the weapons. Each item was photographed and bagged. The house was declared a crime scene until 8 p.m. Neighbors were told to stay clear. One neighbor said gunshots had been heard at the property last week.

Police said the weapons were likely accumulated over several years. They are now checking whether any were stolen from farms in the region. Ballistics testing will be carried out in Adelaide.

The man was refused bail and will appear in Port Pirie Magistrates Court on Thursday. The victim of the altercation remains in stable condition. Police said the dispute remains under investigation.