Two men arrested at gunpoint by plain-clothed police in a dramatic operation at a Darwin fast food drive-through have been charged with a string of alleged offences.
The men, aged 30 and 31, were arrested on Thursday last week by officers from the serious crime and tactical policing squads in Coolalinga, on Darwin's outskirts, in a stand-off captured on video by members of the public.
Footage of the arrest was shared widely on social media, showing plain-clothed officers pointing guns at a vehicle stopped in a Hungry Jack's drive-through.
The 30-year-old man, who police said had been the target of the operation, has been charged with 20 alleged offences, including seven counts of aggravated assault, two of dangerous driving and criminal damage and one charge of going armed in public.
Police last week said officers were out of uniform to avoid escalating the alleged offender's behaviour and used beanbag rounds, tasers and capsicum spray in the arrest.
They alleged the man had threatened people with a crossbow and shotgun at a home in Palmerston last Thursday morning before he was allegedly seen driving dangerously and erratically in Darwin's northern suburbs.
Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Day last week said the man had breached parole conditions by failing to undergo a drug test two days earlier.
The man is scheduled to face Darwin Local Court tomorrow.
The second man arrested, a 31-year-old, has been charged with 13 offences, including two of criminal damage, one of dangerous driving and possessing a firearm unlicensed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Day said the second man had been identified at the time of the arrest as an "active target" of the domestic violence unit.
He is expected to face Darwin Local Court this week.
