Wickham chase: Police arrest man after two-month hunt, say gun and drugs were siezed

It marks the end of a two-month manhunt after officers arrested the passenger of the vehicle but the driver managed to escape and flee the scene on the night of January 14.

Extensive investigations led detectives to a home on Colliers Close, in Newcastle East, about 8.30pm on Wednesday, March 12.

A 41-year-old man, Matthew Ure, was arrested at the scene.

Police allegedly uncovered and seized a loaded firearm, ammunition, knuckle dusters, a knife and various amounts of illegal drugs during a search of the property.

Detectives allege Ure was behind the wheel of the Ford Everest during the police pursuit through multiple Newcastle suburbs in peak-hour traffic.

Police claim the man had never held a driver's licence at the time of the hit-and-run.

The man was taken to Newcastle Police Station, where he was hit with five driving offences, two weapons offences, two drug offences and five firearm offences - including possessing a loaded firearm in a public place.

The 41-year-old spent the night behind bars and fronted Newcastle Local Court on the string of 15 allegations today.

Ure was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court again later this month.

The major police operation unfolded on January 14 after police attempted to stop a Ford Everest on Acacia Avenue at Waratah at about 6pm after discovering it had been reported stolen from Cooks Hill that day.

The SUV allegedly failed to stop and officers gave chase.

Police allege the pursuit continued throughout several Newcastle suburbs before the Ford careened through a red traffic light at the intersection of Fern Street and Maitland Road at Wickham, colliding with a motorcycle.

The Ford allegedly did not stop and continued onto Albert Street, where it slammed into a police vehicle outside the Wickham Park Hotel, causing the cop car to flip onto its side.

The Ford stopped and the driver and passenger were seen running from the vehicle, police said.

Officers chased them on foot and arrested a 26-year-old man, Aaron James Forster of Woodberry, on Albert Street a short time later.

He was taken to Newcastle Police Station and remains behind bars and before the courts on 11 charges.

The 27-year-old man riding the motorcycle suffered minor injuries and NSW Ambulance paramedics treated him at the scene.

No police officers were injured in the ordeal, though senior police told media the following day they were "shaken" and being supported.