Source : Perth Now news
A man was arrested after allegedly triggering a gun scare in a popular entertainment district while wearing a costume for a dress-up party.
Jacopo Mastrocinquel, a 35-year-old business owner, was arrested on Monday after he was allegedly spotted carrying a firearm through Moore Park Entertainment Quarter in Sydney.
He was arrested alongside a 39-year-old man at about 4.45pm on Monday.
“Two men, aged 39 and 35, were arrested and a replica firearm, a vest, and a badge was seized,” police said.
Images from NSW Police allegedly show a vest featuring a US flag, black boots, a badge, replica gun and a briefcase with “hard drugs” written on the side that were seized from the pair.
Both men were taken to Surry Hills Police Station, where officers allegedly also located an “amount of prohibited drugs”
Mr Mastrocinquel was charged with possess unregistered unauthorised pistol in public place and behave in offensive manner in/near public place/s. He was not charged with any drug offences.
The older man, 39, was charged with possess prohibited drug and was granted conditional bail to appear before court on Thursday August 20.
Mr Mastrocinquel’s lawyer Cassy Giudice said his client was allegedly attending a work costume party when he was arrested by police in the District Court on Tuesday.
The court was told he had allegedly attended a heroes-and-villains themed party at a bowling alley in Moore Park for several hours before he stepped outside to have a cigarette in his costume.
Mr Giudice told the court there was “no indication” Mr Mastrocinquel was waving the replica firearm around or pointing it at anyone.
Mr Mastrocinquel had allegedly purchased the item from a shop in Mascot, Mr Giudice said.
Judge David Covington said that Mr Mastrocinquel contributed to “heightened fear in the community” and described the offence as “concerning”.
“The public has got a heightened sense of concern and fear, and rightly so,” he said.
“People are in significant fear of another event occurring.”
Mr Mastrocinquel will appear at the Downing Centre on August 18.
At the time, the public were urged to stay away from the precinct as witnesses reported seeing dozens of police vehicles swarm the area.
“There is no ongoing threat to public safety,” a police spokesman said.
The precinct is kilometres from Sydney’s CBD and is home to the Sydney Cricket Ground, Hordern Pavilion and Allianz Stadium along with eateries and other recreational venues.
