BY DAKOTA TAIT
Two people have been charged following a joint investigation by detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District into an alleged home invasion and another shooting in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.
Police were told a 24-year-old woman attended John Hunter Hospital about 11pm on Tuesday 8 March 2022 suffering a laceration to her leg and head, after two men allegedly forced entry to her Laurel Avenue home in Edgeworth and slashed her with a machete.
A month later, about 9.10pm on Friday 8 April 2022, emergency services responded to reports of a public place shooting at a carpark on Arnott Street in Edgeworth.
A 27-year-old man was found suffering gunshot wounds to the right leg and was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment.
Detectives commenced investigations into the shooting under Strike Force Undola.
Initial investigations led detectives to believe the incidents were linked and allegedly involved members of the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Detectives executed a search warrant at a Cardiff storage facility earlier this month, where a number of weapons, ammunition and a machete were located and seized.
Police also seized a number of items consistent with the Nomads Outlaw Motorcycle Gang during a subsequent vehicle stop conducted at Blackalls Park that same day.
Following further inquiries, strike force detectives executed a search warrant at a home at Blackalls Park about 10.10am on Monday morning, where a number of items relevant to the investigation were seized, including mobile phones and documents.
A 42-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where she was charged with 12 offences, relating to break and enter, firearm possession, the use of a firearm to cause grievous bodily harm, and other involvement in criminal activity.
She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, where she was formally bail refused to appear at Toronto Local Court in October.
A further two search warrants were executed at a home on Crestview Street in Gillieston Heights, about 7am on Tuesday, where a 27-year-old man was arrested at one of the homes and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station.
He faces a number of charges in relation to involvement in the activities of a criminal group, the use of a firearm to cause grievous bodily harm, and stealing.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court yesterday, and formally bail refused to reappear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday.
Investigations under both strike forces are ongoing, with further arrests expected.
