Following investigations by Port Stephens Local Area Command detectives and the State Crime Command's Arson Unit, a fire fighter from Port Stephens has been arrested and charged with allegedly making more than 40 fake phone calls to emergency services.
The 20-year-old man, a probationary member of the Rural Fire Service, was arrested at his home yesterday and charged with three counts of make false call to emergency services number, eleven counts of making vexatious calls to an emergency services number, and assault with act of indecency.
There are no specifics on the circumstances surrounding the phonecalls, but police say after a lot of analysis of telecommunication records they will allege the phone calls were made throughout August.
"As a result of information received from the RFS we were very concerned about up to 48 telephone calls which were hoax calls surrounding predominantly house fires in the Medowie area," said Acting Superintendent Wayne Humphrey at a media conference outside Raymond Terrace Police Station today.
"I believe there was a number of car accidents as well. it will be alleged there was some following of police vehicles as well but predominantly around Rural Fire Service issues if I can put it that way,"
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| Acting Superintendent Wayne Humphrey at Raymond Terrace Police Station. |
The man was released on conditional bail and will front Raymond Terrace Local Court on September 19.
Police are unable to comment on the motives behind the man's actions.
Superintendent Humphrey says he has no sympathy for people who make these fake phonecalls, they take police and Rural Fire Service away from where they need to be.
"Right now I have police and Rural Fire Service members on the highway at Medowie fighting an actual bushfire. The impact of having to call those emergency services to false events is a just horrendous," said Superintendent Humphrey.
EARLIER:
BY JARROD MELMETH
Police will address the media this afternoon after a Port Stephens fire fighter was arrested on Monday for allegedly making a number of false calls to Triple Zero.
Investigations from Strike Force Wenske led investigators to a Port Stephens home where a 20-year-old probationary member of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service was arrested.
Strike Force Wenske was established in August 2017 by officers from Port Stephens Local Area Command assisted by the State Crime Command, Property Crime Squad, Arson Unit, to investigate hoax reports of fire and motor vehicle accident.
He was taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station and charged with three counts of make false call to emergency services number, eleven counts of make vexatious calls to an emergency services number, and assault with act of indecency.
It will be alleged in excess of forty calls were made from pay phones and a mobile phone to contact Triple Zero and report fictitious bush fires and motor vehicle accidents.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Friday 20 October 2017.
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