BY JORDAN REGNIS
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a man wanted on outstanding warrants from Lake Macquarie.
Neil Purnell, aged 38, is wanted on outstanding arrest warrants for multiple domestic violence offences.
He's described as being of Caucasian appearance, 180cm tall, of thin build, fair complexion, with short brown hair and brown coloured eyes.
Anyone with information into his whereabouts is urged not to approach him but to call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
BY IAN CROUCH
State Newcastle MP, Tim Crackanthorp has issued a statement thanking the community for their support following the arrest of a 19-year-old man on a terrorism charge.
It's alleged Jordan Patten from Raymond Terrace attended the MP's office on Wednesday armed with knives and tactical equipment with the intention of killing him due to his position in the Labor Party.
Petten was not required to enter a plea to one count of other acts done in preparation or planning for a terrorist act and did not apply for bail.
The matter has been adjourned for 8 weeks for police to compile a brief of evidence.
If convicted, Patten faces life behind bars.
In a statement, Tim Crackanthorp said he and his staff were unharmed, praising the police for their prompt and effective response.
He also thanked Newcastle Museum staff for their bravery and exceptional management of the situation after Patten also walked into the facility after entering Mr Crackanthorp's office.
 |
| Newcastle Court heard accused terrorist Jordan Patten intended to kill Newcastle Mp, Tim Crackanthorp. |
BY IAN CROUCH
A Port Stephens man is due to face court today (Friday 28 June 2024) on child grooming charges.
In May, strike force detectives began an investigation into a 52-year-old man after he allegedly attempted to groom a child online using social media.
Police executed a search warrant at a home at Medowie around 7.30am on Thursday.
During the search, detectives say they located and seized electronic devices and arrested the man.
He's been charged with using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 and failing to comply with reporting obligations.
BY IAN CROUCH
A man has died after being hit by a car at Lake Macquarie.
About 3:15am today (Wednesday 26 June 2024), emergency services were called to Alhambra Avenue, Cardiff, following reports a man had been hit by a car.
Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District attended and were told a man had been laying on the road and was hit by a utility.
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended; however, the man died at the scene.
He is yet to be formally identified.
The male driver, aged 45, was taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
A crime scene was established, and an investigation has commenced into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Anyone with information into the incident or dashcam footage is urged to call
police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY IAN CROUCH
Lake Macquarie police are on the hunt for two men who've assaulted a young woman at Windale before taking her grandmother's car.
Police say the pair entered a Myall Street residence home at about 9.20pm on Monday and assaulted a 21-year-old woman who was visiting the home.
Her grandmother was waiting outside the house.
The pair then left the house, taking off in the 62-year-old's Mitsubishi Lancer which was found dumped in a nearby street.
The alleged offenders are in their early 20's of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander appearance with a thin build.
Police say neither the young woman or her grandmother were seriously injured during the incident.
BY JACK SEYMOUR
Hunter shoppers and farmers could see fairer prices on supermarket shelves.
An independent review has found supermarket giants with an annual revenue of more than $5 billion should face heavy fines for failing to meet a mandatory code of conduct.
All 11 recommendations of the probe have the backing of the Federal Government, in an effort to increase competition in the grocery sector.
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell says the proposal is a step towards ensuring farmers and shoppers are better protected.
"Some of these rules will make sure farmers are treated properly and will make sure we get a good price for those who produce our food, as well as making sure we have good prices for those who buy our food."
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have charged six teenagers following a pursuit through the Hunter Valley.
Just after 10.30pm on Saturday 22 June, Highway Patrol officers say they spotted a Volkswagon sedan earlier reported stolen on the New England Highway at Whittingham.
They initiated a pursuit when the car failed to stop, with the chase heading through Singleton and Muswellbrook before road spikes were successfully deployed at Aberdeen and a road block set up.
During the roadblock Police say the car rammed into two highway patrol vehicles.
A 14-year-old male driver and his 5 passengers - one aged 15 and the others aged 17 were arrested and charged and faced the children's court on Sunday.
BY IAN CROUCH
Detectives investigating the death of a Brazillian diver over a cocaine haul in Newcastle Harbour have searched a Sydney property of a second man involved in the alleged smuggling operation.
The body of 31-year-old Bruno Martins was discovered in the water near 54 kilograms of the drug in May 2022, believed to have been taken from the hull of a ship docked in the Port.
Police searching for a second diver, 32-year-old Jhoni Fernandes Da Silva, have searched a granny flat at Lurnea where it's believed he stayed for one or two months.
They were looking for traces of blood, fingerprints and DNA.
Two men remain before the courts over the alleged drug smuggling operation.
 |
| A forensic officer tests for traces of blood at the Lurnea property |
BY IAN CROUCH
Southbound traffic on the M1 Pacific Motorway is being disrupted this morning because of cows on the road at Bushells Ridge south of Wyee.
Emergency services were called to a single car crash on the freeway at about 3.10am on Wednesday - it's understood the vehicle was unable to avoid a collision with one of the animals.
The driver wasn't injured and the car has since been towed away.
RFS crews managed to corral three cows on the median strip near Bushells Ridge Road.
The owner has arrived to retrieve the animals and the southbound lanes are being closed for a short time to allow for the safe removal of the cows.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
A new advertising campaign is reminding Hunter bus passengers to 'Buckle up on the bus'.
The campaign from Transport for NSW will appear on TV, radio, digital media, social media and in regional print newspapers from today.
It's the second part of a program encouraging bus passengers in regional areas to understand that buckling up their seatbelt is mandatory on all buses fitted with seatbelts across NSW.
The campaign was rolled out following recommendations made by the Bus Industry Taskforce.
The taskforce was set up last year in an effort to make recommendations to improve bus services, including ways to improve safety after the Greta wedding bus tragedy.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Police are appealing for information to locate a teenager missing from the state’s north.
Ella North, aged 14, was last seen at an address in Wandandian, on Tuesday 11 June 2024.
When she could not be located or contacted, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District were notified and commenced inquiries into her whereabouts.
There are concerns for her welfare due to her young age.
She is described as Caucasian in appearance, about 160cm tall, of a medium build, with light brown hair.
Ella is known to frequent the Cessnock area.
Anyone with information into Ella’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a man missing from the Newcastle area.
Daniel Green, aged 42, was last seen on John Renshaw Drive, Beresfield, about 2pm on Thursday 13 June 2024.
Police and family hold concerns for Daniel’s welfare.
He is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of a
solid build, with short brown hair.
He was last seen wearing blue track pants and jumper with a fluoro shirt
underneath, work boots and a black cap.
Daniel is known to frequent the Heatherbrae and Raymond Terrace areas.
Anyone with information into Daniel’s whereabouts is urged to call Crime
Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
BY JORDAN REGNIS
Detectives have released CCTV footage following a suspicious house fire at Islington earlier this year.
About 11.20am on Monday 25 March 2024, emergency services were called to a home on Norfolk Avenue, Islington, with reports of a fire.
Fire and Rescue crews extinguished the blaze; however, parts of the home sustained significant damage.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District attended and commenced inquiries into the circumstance surrounding the blaze under Strike Force Rhodochrosite.
As inquiries continue, detectives have released CCTV footage of two men who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The first man is described as being about 170-180cm tall, of solid build and with dark hair.
He is pictured wearing an orange hi-vis shirt, dark shorts, tan work boots and sunglasses.
The second man is described as being about 180-185cm tall, of muscular build and with black hair.
He is pictured wearing a yellow hi-vis shirt, dark shorts, dark shoes and sunglasses.
BY IAN CROUCH
Police have charged two teenagers accused of leading officers on a pursuit in a stolen car at Raymond Terrace.
Patrolling officers spotted the white Toyota Corolla on Mount Hall Road on Sunday night and initiated a pursuit when the car failed to stop.
Road spikes were deployed, and the vehicle was found abandoned on Platt Street, Waratah a short time later.
Two males aged 15 and 18 were arrested along with a 13-year-old girl.
Police allege the 15-year-old was behind the wheel - both boys are now before the courts.
The girl will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.
BY IAN CROUCH
A woman has been airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital after serous crash at Coopernook near Taree overnight.
Emergency services were called to the Pacific Highway just before 8.30pm on Thursday where a southbound SUV towing a trailer carrying a car, struck a guard rail and spun on impact, ending up facing north.
The driver and front seat passenger managed to get out of the car uninjured, but a woman in her 50's was still in the back seat when the SUV was struck by a truck.
She suffered multiple injuries and was transported to Taree Airport where she was stabilised before being flown to Newcastle for further treatment by the Hunter's Westpac Rescue helicopter.
The truck ended up down an embankment - the three occupants, the male driver, his female partner and their child, were taken to Port Macquarie Hospital as a precaution - the driver also underwent mandatory testing.
The driver of the SUV was taken to Taree Base Hospital for mandatory testing.
The southbound lanes of the Pacific Highway were closed for more than two hours while the scene was examined, and the wreckage removed.
 |
| The Hunter's Westpac Rescue Helicopter flew the injured woman from Taree Airport to the John Hunter Hospital for treatment of multiple injuries, |
BY IAN CROUCH
Port Stephens Police expect to lay charges after a man climbed onto the roof of the Lakeside Tavern at Raymond Terrace on Thursday night.
Police say around 9.30pm they received several calls from nearby residents reporting a man was calling for help.
They arrived to find a 38-year-old man on the roof of the pub on Benjamin Lee Drive.
Police say he appeared to be drug-affected and initially refused to come down.
Paramedics were called and the man eventually jumped off the roof about an hour later.
He was taken to Maitland Hospital for assessment.
Police say the roof of the hotel sustained some damage and a Foxtel dish was snapped off during the incident.
BY IAN CROUCH
A man is due to face court today (Friday 7 June, 2024) accused of leading police on a pursuit around Nelson Bay early today.
Police say a black Ford Falcon utility came to the attention of patrolling officers on Bagnall Beach Road at about 3.00am on Friday due to the manner of driving.
When they tried to stop the car, the driver took off, with the ute doing laps of Nelson Bay and Salamander Bay for around 20 minutes.
It's alleged at one stage the car was clocked doing 150km/hr in an 80km/hr zone on Nelson Bay Road.
The driver finally stopped at the corner of Bagnall Beach Road and Spinnaker Way and the driver, a man in his 20's was arrested.
He's been refused bail to face Raymond Terrace Court today charged with Police Pursuit, not stop.
