A man will face Newcastle Local Court today, charged over a series of alleged armed robberies at Newcastle overnight.
A 26-year-old man was seated in his stationary vehicle on Beaumont Street late Wednesday afternoon, when another man opened the driver’s side door and demanded he get out.
It's alleged the man grabbed the driver and pulled him from the car, before a brief struggle ensued and he stabbed the driver in the chest with a scalpel.
The driver was able to grab the keys from the ignition before the man fled the scene on foot, heading south along Beaumont Street.
A short time later, the man allegedly entered a chemist on the same street before demanding cash from an employee and stealing drinks.
The man then walked towards the intersection of Tudor and Beaumont Streets, where he opened the passenger side door of another car and allegedly threatened a 33-year-old woman with a scalpel.
The woman, who had two young children in the vehicle, circled the block before the man attempted to undo one of the child’s restraints.
The woman pulled over and removed the children from the car, before the man stole the vehicle and drove away.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District commenced extensive searches and inquiries in the nearby area, and observed a white Ford Kuga on Darby Street at Cooks Hill around 7pm.
The driver failed to stop as directed and a pursuit was initiated, continuing through Merewether until the car was stopped at Flowerdale Avenue.
A 39-year-old Queensland man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station.
He's been charged with two counts of robbery armed with an offensive weapon, aggravated robbery with wounding/grievous bodily harm, and police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed.
The man was refused bail.
