Fears Held For Missing Lake Macquarie Teen

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are asking for help to find a teenager who's gone missing in the Lake Macquarie area.

14-year-old Indi Warby was last seen at Windale at about 5.00pm last Saturday April 26, and concerns are held for her welfare due to her age.

Indi's described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 165cm tall with a thin build, blonde hair and a nose piercing.

She's known to frequent the Windale and Charlestown areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing teenager Indi Warby

 

Four People Arrested As Police Crack Down On Unregistered Trail Bikes At Windale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have arrested four people in connection with illegal trail bike offences in the Windale area.

With the help of the Polair helicopter, several trail bikes were tracked to a home in Moorilla Close.

Two men who police alleged were seen riding unregistered motorbikes at speed and doing wheelies around South Street, were arrested.

The pair aged 20, have been charged with several traffic offences and are due to face court on April 9.

Police also seized an unregistered motor bike.

While at the home it's alleged two males, one aged 15, assaulted police.

The older male has bee charged and the teenager will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.

 

BREAKING! Windale Home Destroyed By Fire

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a house at Windale overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says they were alerted to the fire in the single level fibro home on Sturt Street just after 2.30am on Thursday.

More than 30 firefighters from five stations and the Newcastle Hazmat unit were called to the incident, taking around 90 minutes to fully extinguish the blaze.

The residents were not home when the fire broke out.

The fire is being treated as suspicious and the Fire Rescue Investigation Unit and Forensic Police are looking into how the fire started.

Young Woman Assaulted And Car Stolen At Windale

 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.

Concerns Over Teen Girl Missing From Windale For Two Weeks.

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are appealing for help to find a missing teenage girl from Lake Macquarie.

17-year-old Charntae Lesslie was last seen at Windale on Monday 11 March and police hold concerns for her welfare due to her age.

Charntae is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, about 170cm tall  with a solid build and shoulder length black hair.

She's is known to frequent the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Cessnock and Maitland areas.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Missing teen Charntae Lesslie

UPDATE! Police Investigate Home Invasion At Windale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police have made a breakthrough in their investigation into a home invasion at Windale last week.

Police say three males forced their way into a home on Myall Street at about 2.45am on Friday - one armed with a Ramset gun - and threatened the occupants while demanding money.

They allegedly continued threatening the occupants before fleeing.

Following investigations, officers attended another home in Windale on Monday and arrested a 37-year-old man.

He's been refused bail charged with several offences including Aggravated Break, Enter and commit Serious Indictable Offence while armed with a dangerous weapon, breaching an AVO, breaching bail and drug possession.

The search continues for two other suspects.

EARLIER

Lake Macquarie Police have set up a crime scene at a home in Windale.

Few details are known at this stage but Police have confirmed they are investigating a home invasion just before 3 o'clock on Friday morning at a house in Myall Street.

It's understood no-one was injured during the incident.

Detectives are at the scene speaking to the residents of the home.

BREAKING! Teens Arrested After Pursuit In Alleged Stolen Car In Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Four teenage boys will front the Broadmeadow Children's Court today (Friday 9 December, 2022) following a pursuit in an allegedly stolen car through Lake Macquarie.

Police say the vehicle was stolen from Hamilton South three days ago and was spotted on the Newcastle Inner City Bypass at 11.20pm on Thursday.

A pursuit began when the vehicle failed to stop, leading officers through Hillsborough, Gateshead and Windale where the chase was terminated for safety reasons.

The vehicle was found a short time later and a Police operation was launched to find the boys with the assistance of the Polair helicopter and the Dog Unit along with officers from the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens Hunter Police Districts.

The boys, aged 15, 17 and two others aged 16 were arrested at a house on Katie Street at Windale and have been refused bail. 

The arrests come as part of Operation Mongoose targeting gangs of youths who police say have been involved with stealing cars and getting into high speed pursuits with police.

BREAKING! Smoke Alarms Save Mother And Daughter From House Fire At Windale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Smoke alarms are being credited for saving the lives of a mother and daughter after their Windale home went up in flames early Friday.

Firefighters from five stations were called to South Street at 1.15am to find a single storey brick veneer and tile home engulfed in flames.

Police say neighbours helped the two occupants, both of whom are disabled,  to safety.

It's taken crews around an hour to extinguish the flames, which left the house in ruins.

Police say the cause is not known at this stage, but the fire is not being treated as suspicious.

The burnt out shell of the home on Friday morning. Picture Rebecca Jefferson

Teen In Custody After Police Pursuit On Newcastle Bypass

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police have recovered a ute allegedly involved in a pursuit on the Newcastle Bypass early Friday morning.

Police say the vehicle was stolen from Redhead overnight and was spotted at Windale just after 2.30am.

The car was pursued at speed up and down the bypass before it was dumped at Windale and three occupants in the vehicle fled.

A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for breach of bail and police believe he may have also been involved in the theft and pursuit of the car.

Authorities Tracing Steps Of COVID-Positive Man From Windale

BY IAN CROUCH

Police are working with health officials to track the movements of a man diagnosed with COVID-19 which forced the hard lockdown of a Windale apartment complex.

The 52-year-old was fined $1000 on Sunday for breaching the public health order after travelling to Blacktown to visit a friend, where he contracted the virus.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital on Tuesday after Police found his condition had deteriorated during a compliance check.

Public Health Physician Dr David Durrheim says it's feared the man may have had contact with people in the local community while infectious. 

"We are working with Police and with the case to better understand any community exposures that there may have been," he said.

Dr David Durrheim

Windale Man Facing 11 Drug Supply Offences After Three Month Investigation

BY DAKOTA TAIT

A Windale man is facing charges of 11 drug supply offences after a three month police investigation.

Officers arrested the 55 year old yesterday morning, and located methylamphetamine in a concealed compartment of his car.

Police also seized more than $180,000 in cash, a supply of methylamphetamine and cannabis, and two electronic stun devices from nearby properties.

The offences include supply large commercial quantity drug, supply prohibited drug on an ongoing basis, take part supply commercial quantity prohibited drug, and knowingly deal with proceeds of crime.

The man was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today.

Windale Community Centre Up For Grabs

 BY JARROD MELMETH

The current Windale Community Centre is up for grabs before construction begins on a brand new one.

Opened in 1958, the current centre has has been a hub in the community for decades however, council has plans for a new centre which will include a library.

Lake Macquarie City Council is hoping to recycle the centre and are offering it to an interested not-for-profit  or for-purpose community organisation to relocate and repurpose it.

Council says the only costs involved are the cost of moving the building to a new location, and also the costs for relevant approvals and permits.

An expression of interest process is currently underway until June 14.

Councils Circular Economy Lead Debbie O'Byrne says it all part of councils reuse and recycle strategy.

"This is a building that has been well loved and its been well looked after, yes it has got a bit of wear but it is perfectly reusable as a building.

"Its not unusual to see buildings moved around. It presents some logistical challenges but ultimately we want to get really great outcomes.

"We know there are communities in our region who have been affected by bushfires and floods and will have lost community buildings, so we see this as a very valuable opportunity to gift the centre to one of those affected communities," Ms O'Byrne said.

The building features a 161sqm hall, 88.5sqm multipurpose room, 23.5sqm kitchen, stage, storeroom, office space and an accessible toilet and is required to be removed from the site by July 23.

The current Windale Community Centre up for grabs.

Police Investigate Suspicious House Fire At Windale

 BY IAN CROUCH

Police are treating a fire which severely damaged a home at Windale early Tuesday morning as suspicious.

20 Firefighters in 5 trucks from Charlestown, Belmont and Tingira Heights were called to the single level fibro and iron home in Bourke Street at 1.40am, arriving to find to house well alight.

Police say all the occupants were accounted for and no-one was injured.

It took crews almost two hours to extinguish and mop up the fire, which caused 50 per cent damage to the home.

Police have set up a crime scene as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.

Police Officer Assaulted At Windale

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A police officer has been assaulted while attempting to arrest a man following an alleged domestic violence incident at Lake Macquarie.

Officers were called to an address in Windale at 7.00pm on Sunday and were attempting to arrest a 25-year-old man when it's alleged he threw a punch at a male officer, hitting him in the side of the head.

The injured officer and 2 others managed to overcome the man and arrest him.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he's been refused bail to face Belmont Local Court today (Monday 22 February 2021) charged with 2 counts of assault police, resist police, malicious damage, stalking and intimidation.

The injured officer was taken to Belmont Hospital for treatment and has since been released.

 

Police Car Rammed and Officers Injured At Windale

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A driver is on the run after ramming into a police car at Windale.

The plain clothes officers tried to stop a Nissan Patrol on Lake Street at about 5.00pm on Thursday, when the driver reversed into their police car and fled.

The officers followed the 4WD into nearby Belar Avenue where the front of their car was rammed again, leaving the vehicle extensively damaged before the Nissan drove off.

Both officers were treated for minor injuries in John Hunter Hospital.

The vehicle was later found at Belmont North and a nearby unit has since been searched, with items seized for further investigation.

 

The damaged police car

Police Searching for Wanted Man Known to Frequent Swansea, Marks Point, Windale

 BY ISABEL EVERETT

Lake Macquarie Police are searching for a man wanted on a number of outstanding warrants. 

Matthew Betts is wanted over break and enter and domestic violence offences.

He's known to frequent the Swansea, Marks Point and Windale areas. 

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

Image: Lake Macquarie Police District 

Lake Macquarie Man Charged With Child Sex Grooming

BY IAN CROUCH

A Lake Macquarie man is facing court today (Monday 29 July, 2020) accused of grooming a teenage girl for sex.

Police were alerted after a 15-year-old girl reported receiving online messages of a sexual nature from a man known to her last Thursday (16 July, 2020).

Following extensive inquiries, officers went to a Windale home on Friday night and arrested a 45-year-old man. The also seized two mobile phones for forensic examination.

He's been charged with using a carriage service to menace or harass a child for unlawful sexual activity and using a carriage service to groom a child under 16 for sex.

He was refused bail to face Newcastle Bail Court on Saturday July 18, where he was further refused bail to re-appear in court today.

New OzHarvest Hub at Windale Set to Deliver 700 Meals Per Week

BY ISABEL EVERETT

OzHarvest’s iconic yellow van has pulled in to PCYC Lake Macquarie in Windale to set up a new food relief hub that will provide 700 pre-cooked meals and over 600 hampers each week to 60 local charities across the Hunter in response to COVID-19.

This year marks 10 years in the Hunter for OzHarvest, who have established the Lake Mac hub to meet an increasing demand for food relief during this unprecedented time.

Lake Macquarie Mayor Cr Kay Fraser has welcomed the hub to the City that will see thousands of meals delivered to people right across Lake Mac and the Hunter.

“Council has also agreed to supply food and garden green bins and waive any associated waste service fees to help support OzHarvest, and local business Source Separation Systems kindly donated compostable bin liners," Cr Fraser said. 

OzHarvest Newcastle Manager Nicki Lembcke said the new OzHarvest hub at PCYC Windale will run in addition to their regular food rescue program that already delivers around 35,000 meals a week to support local charities. 

“Food relief is at an all-time high and we are doing whatever it takes to help meet the increased demand across the Hunter. Thanks to our wonderful yellow army of volunteers who give up their precious time to pack hampers and distribute cooked meals out of the new hub.”

“We are truly grateful for the support of both volunteers and Lake Macquarie City Council for helping get the hub up and running so quickly. It’s a true testament to community spirit in these challenging times.” 

If you would like to donate or support OzHarvest, visit ozharvest.org

OzHarvest Volunteer at Lake Macquarie PCYC

Lake Macquarie Mayor, Cr Kay Fraser, with Richard Stark and OzHarvest Volunteers

Man Allegedly Walking Down Lake Macquarie Street with Replica Fire Arm Charged

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Police have charged a man after he allegedly walked down a street with a replica firearm in Lake Macquarie on Thursday.

.About 11.55am police were called after reports a man carrying a firearm was seen walking on Bourke Street, Windale.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a home on Takooma Way in Windale, where a 22-year-old man was allegedly found with a replica firearm.

He was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station, where he was charged with possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place and possessing an unauthorized firearm.

He was refused bail and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Friday the 13th of March. 

Four Cars Destroyed In Early Morning Fire At Windale

BY IAN CROUCH

Four cars have been destroyed in an an early-morning fire at Windale.

Fire crews from Charlestown and Tingira Heights were called to a villa complex in James Street at 5.15am on Friday.

First reports suggested one of the villas was also on fire - crews managed to douse the flames before they could spread.

Police have set up a crime scene as investigations continue and are appealing for anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity near the villas to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, a Total Fire Ban is again in force until midnight on Friday with a Severe Fire Danger expected in the Greater Hunter.