Man Faces Court over Two Alleged Armed Robberies

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will front court today charged over two alleged armed robberies in the Hunter Valley last month.

Police allege he robbed a fashion store in Bridge Street Muswellbrook on October 10 at knifepoint getting away with cash.

It's also alleged he threatened staff at a restaurant in the same street with a knife on October 31 and again escaped with cash.

After extensive investigations into both incidents, officers from the Hunter Valley Local Area Command attended a home in Glenbawn Place, Muswellbrook at 10:50am yesterday and arrested a man.

The 23-year-old was arrested and charged with two counts of robbery armed with an offensive weapon.

He was refused bail and appears in Singleton Local Court today.

Man Accused of Causing Carnage in Singleton Has Had his Case Adjourned

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Rodney Johnson didn't appear in Singleton Local Court this morning to face the charges against him for the horror crash in Singleton yesterday.

The 29-year-old had his matter mentioned and then adjourned until December 6 in Newcastle Local Court- a psychiatric assessment has also been ordered.

He was formally refused bail and remains behind bars.

Johnson is accused of stealing a semi-trailer from Murrurundi and driving it erratically to Singleton where he crashed into several buildings and cars, injuring eight people in the process.

Meanwhile, the 67-year-old man who was critically injured, is now in a serious but stable condition.

Image NSW Incident Alerts

Rodney Johnson Picture: Facebook

Police Escort Rodney Johnson From Singleton Hospital. Picture: Nine News

Driver Charged Over Singleton Road Carnage

BY IAN CROUCH

Police have charged the driver at the centre of yesterday's road carnage at Singleton as a critical incident investigation continues.

The 29-year-old man has been charged with stealing a motor vehicle, two counts of Skye's Law (police pursuit - not stop), using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, resisting an officer and malicious damage.

He's been refused bail to face Singleton Local Court today.

It's alleged the man stole the semi-trailer from a service station at Murrurundi before ploughing into 7 cars, a cafe and the historic Royal Hotel on George Street before the truck errupted in flames.

8 people were taken to hospital.

Police say the condition of the most seriously injured person, a 67-year-old man, is not as serious as first thought.

Acting Commander Robert Post says police were forced to use road spikes.

"All I can say is it was quite some distance the vehicle did travel from the site where the road spikes were deployed," he said.

Fireball: The Truck Erupts In Flames After Taking Out 7 Cars And Crashing Into Buildings

A restricted speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour is in place along George Street as investigations and repair works continue.

Hunter police officer should've known better

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Hunter police officer, who maybe should've known better, will face court next month on alleged drink driving charges.

The offence allegedly occurred at about 4:15 yesterday afternoon.

The female senior constable, who is attached to a specialist command within the Northern Region, has been handed a Field Court Attendance Notice for allegedly refusing a roadside breath test, stating false details, and driving while suspended.

She's been suspended without pay and will face Singleton Local Court on September 14.

Attempted armed robbery at Greta

BY JESSICA ROUSE

While a man heads to Singleton Local Court today for an alleged armed robbery in Muswellbrook, police are investigating another alleged armed robbery in Greta.

At about 8:30pm last night an unknown man entered a service station on High Street where, armed with a knife, he approached two employees and demanded money.

One of the employees approached the man and there was an altercation.

No one was injured and the man fled empty handed in a Holden utility.

A short time later the car was found abandoned on Water Street, Greta. Police searched the car finding a knife which is allegedly the same knife used during the incident. The knife and the car was seized and is undergoing forensic investigation.

Hunter Valley officers are calling for anyone with any information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Worker threatened by a man wielding a knife in Muswellbrook

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 34-year-old man will face Singleton Local Court today after alleged armed robbery and domestic violence charges at Muswellbrook.

Police have been told at about 2:45pm yesterday a man working at a motel on Maitland Road was threatened by the 34-year-old armed with a knife and demanded cash.

The man left on foot and a short time later was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident in Ruthwhite Avenue.

Hunter Valley officers attended and had to use a taser to subdue the man during the arrest.

He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where he was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon, common assault (DV), two counts of breaching an AVO, and two counts of destroying or damaging property (DV).

He was refused bail.