Woman Breaches Self Isolation Orders, Visits Friend in Maitland After Returning from Victoria

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A woman will face court in September, after visiting a friend in Maitland, on her way to her Nimbin home, after returning from Victoria.

Officers attended the Nimbin home on August 7 and spoke to the 31-year-old.

Check revealed she had stopped in Maitland, Nabiac, Gosford for mechanical repairs, and picked up a patient who had been discharged from Lismore Base Hospital after returning to NSW from Victoria on August 1st.

The woman was advised to travel directly from Albury to her Nimbin address.

She is due to appear in Lismore Local Court on Monday 21 September 2020.

19-Year-Old Charged Over Alleged Sexual Assault of Girl At Wallsend Park, Posting Recordings to Social Media

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 19-year-old Cardiff man has been charged over the alleged sexual assault of a young girl he met on social media.

Last month, detectives commenced an investigation, following reports a 12-year-old girl had allegedly been sexually assaulted by the man at a park in West Wallsend in April this year.

It is also alleged the man shared recordings of the incident on social media.

Following extensive inquiries, investigators executed a search warrant at a home at Cardiff about 8.40am on Tuesday August 4th.

During the search, officers seized mobile phones and other electronic devices.

The 19-year-old was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where he was charged with intentionally sexually touch child (between 10 and 16 years), five counts of have sexual intercourse with child (between 10 and 14 years), produce child abuse material and disseminate child abuse material.

He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Wednesday 5 August 2020.

Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent John Kerlatec, said the incident is a timely reminder for parents and carers to speak with young people about potential dangers online.

“While social media apps allow us to be better connected with people we know, they also provide opportunity for people we don’t know to connect with us – and this includes strangers talking to our children,” Det Supt Kerlatec said.

“For young people, any online platform that allows them to be in contact with people they do not know – and have only met in the online environment – can put them at risk.

“We know that sexual predators may use the online environment to target children, so it is imperative that all young people know what to do if they are exposed to explicit or inappropriate conversations.

“It is common for young people to feel uncomfortable reporting these types of conversations, so I urge parents and carers to make sure they’re assured that they don’t need to be embarrassed or upset.

“From a police perspective our priority is protecting children from any type of harm, and we will track down anyone who uses the internet to groom and/or procure children for sex.

“Finally, I want to remind everyone to be careful about providing personal details on social media, especially to someone they only know online, and take extreme caution if making plans to meet up – consider whether you really know who it is you are meeting,” Det Supt Kerlatec said.

Man and Woman Arrested, Allegedly Assaulting Three Police Officers in Shortland

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

A man and woman have been charged after allegedly assaulting three police officers in Shortland on Tuesday. 

About 4.10pm on Tuesday 23 June 2020, emergency services were called to Long Crescent, Shortland, following an altercation between a group of people.

Upon arrival, officers attached to Newcastle City Police District spoke to a man and a woman who allegedly became abusive towards police and refused to leave the premises.

The 30 year-old man allegedly grabbed an officer, resisting arrest and kicking a Sergeant and Senior Constable.

A 35-year-old woman allegedly tried to intervene, spitting at officers and pushing and kicking a Senior Constable, before stealing a set of handcuffs.

Pepper spray was deployed and both were detained taken to Waratah Police Station where they allegedly continued to act aggressively towards police. 

The three officers sustained minor injuries including abrasions to their knees and hands and some swelling and were affected by the pepper spray.

The man was charged with two counts of assault officer in execution of duty and two counts of resist officer in execution of duty.

He was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday June 24th. 

The woman was also charged with two counts of assault officer in execution of duty and two counts of resist officer in execution of duty.

The woman was granted conditional bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday July 23rd. 

BREAKING! Four Men In Custody Over Separate Confrontations With Police In Newcastle

BY IAN CROUCH

Two men are due to face court today (Wednesday 24 June, 2020) over a confrontation with police at Hamilton South.

Police say officers were patrolling in Fowler Street at about 3.00pm on Tuesday when they were confronted by the pair who then became aggressive.

One of them was allegedly armed with a knife.

The officers called for back-up as a crowd of onlookers took camera phone footage of the incident.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested and charged with being armed with an offensive weapon with intent, while a 35-year-old man has been charged with affray and hindering police in the execution of duty.

Both men have been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today.

Another two men are in custody over separate confrontations with police at Warabrook and Shortland.

No officers were seriously injured during the incidents.

It comes after 3 officers were allegedly assaulted following a vehicle stop at Telarah on Sunday night.

Second Man Arrested Over Alleged Police Assault At Telarah

BY IAN CROUCH

A second man wanted over the alleged assault of three police officers at Telarah has been arrested.

A sergeant pulled over a Ford hatchback on Sunday night in Trevor Street and was allegedly punched in the face by the 20-year-old driver and was treated in hospital for a fractured eye socket.

The man fled with a male passenger and was arrested a short time later by two officers who were also allegedly punched.

Following further inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Ada Street at Telarah just after 3pm on Monday.

He's been refused bail to face Maitland Local Court today (Tuesday 23 June, 2020) charged with assault police officer in execution of duty causing actual bodily harm, resist officer in execution of duty and escaping police custody.

Police Officer Assaulted At Hamilton

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court accused of assaulting a police officer in Hamilton overnight.

Officers were called to Beaumont Street around 11.00pm on Monday to reports an intoxicated man was behaving in an offensive manner outside the Hamilton Station Hotel.

Police say they directed him to move on and he initially complied but then returned and swore at the officers and refused to move on.

They arrested the 44-year-old and were assisting him into a caged vehicle when it's alleged he punched a Senior Constable in the face.

The man's been granted conditional bail to face Newcastle Local Court on 6 August 2020 charged with continue intoxicated behaviour after move on direction and assault police in the execution of their duty.

The officer sustained only a minor injury. 

Woman To Face Court Accused Of Spitting On Police Officer

BY IAN CROUCH

A woman is due to face court in August accused of deliberately spitting on a police officer at Teralba.

The officer stopped a Subaru Forester on Anzac Parade on Tuesday morning for a random breath test.

It's alleged the male driver initially refused to comply and his passenger, a 20-year-old woman, got out of the car and verbally abused the officer before hitting him in the chest and spitting on him.

The officer called for back-up, with the driver arrested after returning a positive test for cannabis.

The woman has since been issued with a court attendance notice.

She's expected to face Toronto Local Court on August 4  charged with two counts of assault officer in execution of his duty, and one count each of resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, behave in an offensive manner in/near public place/school, and intimidate officer in execution of duty.

Police say a one-year-old child was also in the car at the time and a child-at-risk notification has been lodged with the Department of Family and Community Services.

Muswellbrook Driver Charged Over Alleged High Range Drink Driving and Coughing on Police, Claiming to Have Covid-19

BY ISABEL EVERETT

A 42-year-old man has been charged with alleged high range driving, and coughing on a Police Officer during a breath test, claiming to have Covid-19, in Muswellbrook.

About 4.15pm on Tuesday, Police officers noticed a Holden Commodore stopped in the middle of the road on the Pacific High Way.

As police approached the vehicle, it allegedly drove off, before stopping on Tobruk Avenue.

The driver was subjected to a roadside breath test, allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.274.

Police allege the man claimed in court he had COVID-19 and intentionally coughed at the Police Officer when he was asked to submit to a breath test.

He was granted conditional bail charged with high range drinking driving and assaulting a Police Officer, he is due to appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Monday 6 April 2020.

EXCLUSIVE! Off-Duty Detective Assaulted By Alleged Speeding Driver At East Maitland

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today accused of assaulting an off-duty police officer at East Maitland on Tuesday night.

The Detective Senior Constable was walking his dog along Park Street just before 8.00pm when it's alleged he saw a car being driven at high speed for 100 metres down the road. It's claimed the car then skidded sideways into a corner and took off before returning and stopping in the street.

The officer yelled out to the 32-year-old man who was driving the car, saying there were children in the street.

Police say the man then crossed the road and threatened the detective, challenging him to a fight.  The officer tried to walk away but it's alleged the man threw a punch which missed, with the man grabbing the detective.

The pair became involved in a violent struggle as the detective's partner called for help.

Police arrived a short time later and arrested the man - he's been refused bail on 7 charges including assault police, negligent driving and driving under the influence of alcohol and is due to face Maitland Local Court today.

The detective suffered minor injuries to his chest, hand, elbow and lip and is expected to return to work today.

Man Charged With Assaulting Police Near Singleton

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court next month accused of punching a police officer in the face during a vehicle stop near Singleton.

Officers stopped a truck on the New England Highway at Rixs Creek on Wednesday morning as part of an operation targeting dangerous goods to inspect several large gas bottles.

Police say a man driving behind the truck stopped and confronted the officers, punching one of them in the face.

The 47-year-old was arrested - he's due to face Singleton Local Court on September 27.

The truck was one of 17 inspected, with 11 found to be non-compliant resulting in fines valued at $24,000.