Bizarre videos have emerged of a man accusing police of “terrorizing” residents during a 10-hour siege.
Max Freedom Pollard, 31, was allegedly involved in a confrontation after heavily armed police invaded a Dudley Street apartment in Coogee, in Sydney’s east, on Tuesday.
Officers armed with guns and even a chainsaw surrounded the apartment block shortly before 11am following reports of concern for welfare.
Pollard was arrested after police entered his unit around 8:20 p.m.
He was charged with several firearms offences, including possession of an unauthorized pistol and prohibited firearms, and failing to store firearms in a safe place.
During the day-long police operation, Pollard filmed several videos of himself before uploading them to Instagram.
‘Attached are clips of the unsuccessful New South Wales Police raid on my top floor apartment in Coogee, Australia. “They are doing the best they can and are still trying as I write this,” he wrote.
“They are terrorizing Coogee, attacking and avoiding Australia’s judiciary and the Commonwealth Government, and boasting about it.”
Pollard accused police in a video of using snipers, which he said “has been scaring the entire community.”
Max Freedom Pollard, 31 (pictured), was arrested and charged with multiple firearms offenses after a 10-hour siege in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Tuesday.
Pollard also filmed armed tactical officers on the steps of the Coogee unit complex.
He also uploaded a video of an armed tactical officer who had walked up the stairs of the apartment and a clip he filmed of his interaction with a police sniper.
The officer holding the sniper was seen standing on the roof of an apartment across from the unit where Pollard lives.
Pollard is heard telling the tactical officer that he had no firearms.
The officer could be heard telling Pollard “we’re here to help you” before telling him to leave the apartment.
“We are here to help you, we are concerned about your well-being, so please come forward,” the officer said.
Pollard responded: “The sniper rifle is a little intimidating, I’m not going to lie.”
“To be clear, I don’t own firearms…I had them and I left them because I don’t want firearms.”
In another video, a police officer and his colleague are seen entering the unit “to chat” with Pollard.
Pollard filmed several interactions with police, including one involving a police sniper (pictured) standing on the rooftop of an apartment across from Pollard’s unit.
Police were called to the street on Tuesday morning following reports of concern for welfare.
The officer told Pollard that a concerned neighbor had accused him of allegedly sending text messages and Whatsapp messages.
The officer informed Pollard that he had been given a notice to leave the apartment in November.
Pollard was treated by paramedics before being taken to Prince of Wales Hospital for further treatment.
After his arrest, police allegedly confiscated two unauthorized firearms and a ballistic vest.
Pollard was refused bail when he appeared at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.
No plea was entered and the case will return to court next month.
Pollard claims on his LinkedIn to have worked for Harvard University as a staff member of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and as a “security equipment specialist.”
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