Shot man charged over illegal reptiles

A MAN whose leg was amputated after he was shot in Helensvale less than two weeks ago has been charged after police allegedly found illegal reptiles at his Gold Coast property.

Yesterday at 4.20pm Rapid Action Patrol officers raided Luke Tomlinson’s Oxley Drive property and allegedly found a boa constrictor snake and a leopard gecko – both are exotic reptiles and declared pests.

Drug utensils were also allegedly found.

Tomlinson, 42, was charged with two counts of possessing a declared pest. He is due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on January 23.

Tomlinson was found on July 19 after allegedly being shot in the leg in a car and dumped by the side of the road at Helensvale.

It is understood another person in the car demanded $15,000 from him, before shooting him in the leg.

Tomlinson was rushed to hospital and lost his leg to the injury last week.

Tomlinson’s property has also been the subject of at least 16 complaints regarding two declared dangerous dogs that live there. It is unknown if the dogs have been seized.

Three other people in the house during yesterday’s raid were charged in relation to a number of drug offences.

They are due to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on August 16.