Alleged meth runner bail veto

A TOWNSVILLE business owner has been denied bail after police allegedly busted him in a car with methamphetamines worth up to $ 100,000 in Rockhampton on Monday.

Nathan Aaron Turner, 32, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on eight charges: one for the meth, another for possession of cocaine, two digital scales, a knife in a public place, two obstruct police, one receive tainted property and one of stealing.

The court heard police came across Turner at Yabulu, 25km north of Townsville, in a vehicle that had no number- plates. He and another male in the car drove off from police, resulting in one of the obstruct police charges.

Next, police intercepted a Toyota LandCruiser driven by a female with a restricted licence at a service station in Gladstone Rd, Rockhampton, at 3.30am on Monday.

The court heard Turner, who was on bail for 11 drug and weapons charges currently before the Townsville courts, was in the car along with a child.

Magistrate Jeff Clarke said the driver, who told police they had driven from Gin Gin, declared the knife when police first spoke to them.

He said a search revealed a pipe, small amounts of meth and cocaine, along with two digital scales.

Mr Clarke said the pair then tried to run away ahead of a further search of the vehicle.

“The defendant tried to grab a bag police had located and tried to run away,” he said.

The court heard police found six clip- seal bags with 280g of crystal meth in the bag.

Defence lawyer Rowan King said Turner owns and operates Rollingstone Rural Services.

Turner’s Townsville matters will be next mentioned on November 6 and his Rockhampton charges have been adjourned until December 5.