Police Investigate Armed Robbery At Tanilba Bay

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are searching for a man who held up a Port Stephens bottle shop at gunpoint.

Police say the man entered the store on President Wilson Walk at Tanilba Bay just before 7.00pm on Sunday and threatened a female staff member with a handgun while demanding cash.

He was given an amount of money before running off.

Police say the worker was shaken but otherwise unharmed.

Detectives are viewing CCTV footage in a bid to identify the culprit.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.  

Hunter Man Charged With Grooming

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Detectives from the State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad have charged a man following an investigation into online grooming in the Hunter region. 

Officers have spent the last month connecting online with a 47-year-old man in Port Stephens, posing as a woman and her daughter, aged under ten years. 

The man reportedly engaged in highly-sexualised conversations, sent child abuse material, and arranged to meet the pair for sexual activity. 

He was arrested at a home in Tanilba Bay yesterday at about 7:30am. 

Police also seized several electronic storage devices and other items, which will undergo examination. 

He was formally refused bail, and will appear before Newcastle Local Court next Wednesday. 

Police Renew Appeal For Information Into Armed Robbery At Tanilba Bay

 BY IAN CROUCH

Port Stephens Police have released CCTV footage in a bid to identify a man wanted over an armed robbery at Tanilba Bay in June.

Around 6.40am on Sunday June 12, a man entered a newsagency on President Wilson Walk and threatened an employee with a machete while demanding cash.

He stole a sum of money and fled on foot in a southerly direction through the nearby carpark.

The man's described as being in his 20's, about 180cm tall with a medium build.

He was wearing a light-coloured hoodie with the hood pulled over his head, black track pants, black gloves and a black ski-style fabric mask.

Anyone with information or dashcam footage should call Crime Stoppers.

A still image of the wanted man 

BREAKING! Teen In Custody Over Early Morning Pursuit At Port Stephens

 BY IAN CROUCH

A 17-year-old boy is in custody following a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car at Stockton early Thursday morning.

Patrolling police noticed a Mitsubishi Outlander, which had earlier been reported stolen from Dubbo, just before 4am at Tanilba Bay.

They began pursuing the vehicle when the driver fail to stop.

Police say the boy was arrested after crashing the vehicle into a gate on the grounds of the former Stockton Centre.

He's now assisting police with their inquiries and is expected to face court today (Thursday 7 April, 2022)

Girl Found Unconscious In Family Car At Tanilba Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

Port Stephens detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a 5-year-old girl found unresponsive in a car at Tanilba Bay.

Ambulance crews were called to a family home at about 4.00pm on Tuesday to find the little girl inside a car parked in the driveway.

It's understood paramedics treated her at the scene and placed in an induced coma before she was flown to the John Hunter Hospital by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a critical condition.

Salt Ash Fire Update

BY IAN CROUCH

Conditions have eased overnight around Tanilba Bay, Lemon Tree Passage and Mallabula where a large bushfire threatened dozens of homes.

The fire has burnt through 1535 hectares and is currently listed at Advice level.

Crews have worked through the night to carry out tactical backburning along Lemon Tree Passage Road near Oyster Farm Road and Rutile Road near Tanilba Avenue. Backburning has also been carried out behind homes in Tilligerry Track, where more than 70 homes came under threat last night along with about a dozen homes and a caravan park in Oyster Farm Road. These backburning operations are continuing.

Lemon Tree Passage Road has been re-opened but motorists are advised to be aware of fire crews working in the area as well as smoke hazards.

There are currently 70 firefighters and 20 fire trucks from the RFS and Fire & Rescue NSW working on the fire ground. It's expected more resources will be tasked to the area throughout the day.

At the time of writing, (9.00am Sunday) air crews were completing their morning briefing prior to taking to the skies over the fire ground. Three waterbombing helicopters and a fixed-wind aircraft will support efforts on the ground to strengthen containment lines.

While the weather conditions are relatively calm at the moment, the RFS expects conditions to deteriorate as the day progresses. Currently, the winds are from the north-west and are gusting at times up to 40-50 kilometres per hour and the relative humidity is 40%. However, the winds are expected to pick up and swing around from the south-west during the morning and the forecast relative humidity is expected to drop to about 20% which will likely see the fire danger increase. A Very High Fire Danger is expected today ahead of continuing dry and windy conditions.

The RFS is advising residents to remain vigilant, continue to monitor the situation closely and take the advice of firefighters on the ground. Residents should also be prepared to initiate their Bushfire Survival Plan if the situation changes and, if they want to leave their homes, to do so early.

There are no reports of property damage, however a Building Impact Assessment Team is about to begin work.

Fire Lights Up The Night Sky Around Tanilba Bay. Picture: Port Stephens Examiner

Woman Suffers Medical Episode Before Crashing At Tanilba Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A woman is recovering in the John Hunter Hospital after a bad crash at Tanilba Bay.

Nelson Bay police say the 36-year-old was driving along Lemon Tree Passage Road just before 5 yesterday afternoon when she suffered a medical episode and blacked out at the wheel.

Moments later, her car crashed off the road and into a tree outside the local golf club.

She was trapped for about 40 minutes before being freed and taken to the John Hunter with serious leg injuries.

The woman is reported to be in a stable condition.

Teen Seriously Injured In Head-On Smash At Tanilba Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

A 19-year-old woman remains in a serous condition in the John Hunter Hospital after bad crash at Tanilba Bay.

Police say a silver Holden Commodore collided head-on with a white Mitsubishi Lancer on Lemon Tree Passage Road at about 4.15 yesterday afternoon.

The young woman was was trapped in the Lancer for some time before being flown to hospital with internal injuries.

The 46-year-old man driving the Commdore was also taken to the John Hunter for further medical checks.

Police want to hear from anyone who witnessed the crash.

The Crash Scene At Tanilba Bay. Picture: theherald.com.au

Tanilba Bay man arrested after injuring police officer

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

A police officer responding to a noise complaint at Tanilba Bay last night has been injured following a confrontation with a homeowner.

Around 6pm, the officer attended a property following nuisance reports when Raymond Terrace police say he started behaving aggressively.

A scuffle ensued as a member of the public assisted the officer in controlling the 38-year-old man, who was arrested and charged with multiple offences including assaulting a police officer.

The officer sustained an injury to his arm and was taken via ambulance to the John Hunter Hospital, where doctors confirmed it to be minor soft tissue damage.

The alleged offender will appear at Raymond Terrace court later this month.