Man charged with More than A Dozen Offences after Running Down Another Man

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged with 13 offences after he allegedly ran down another man during a per-arranged meeting in Oakhampton on Saturday night.

Police say the 27-year-old driver went to meet with a 38-year-old man at about 6:30pm on Oakhampton Road. Officers were told the driver, the younger man, deliberately ran down the other man, allegedly hitting him with the car several more times before fleeing from the scene.

The older man was taken to hospital with minor injuries and was released yesterday.

Police initiated an investigation and yesterday arrested the 27-year-old at a home on Bligh Street, Telarah. They also seized an unlicensed firearm from the home.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with more than a dozen offences including stalk/intimidate intend fear physical, fail to stop and assist after impact cause injury, possess unregistered firearm - prohibited firearm, possess unauthorised firearm, armed with intent to commit indictable offense.

The 27-year-old will face Maitland Local Court today.

Van Mistakes Train Tracks for the Road in Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still on the scene neat Maitland Train Station after a van ended up on the train tracks this morning. 

Just before 10am, emergency services received reports of an Echo van on the tracks near the station carpark.

The car is in the process of being removed, but there is some damage to the track so there'll be spot work going on for around 2 hours once the van is removed.

Services between Telarah and Thornton are still suspended.

There is a limited bus service operating in place of the train service.

Image Wikipedia

Alleged Head of Hunter Drug Syndicate Facing Trial

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Raymond Terrace man has been committed to face trial on 35 drug and firearm related offences.

Jason Christopher Gibson, the alleged head of a Hunter drug and firearm syndicate, has been in Cessnock Correctional Centre since he was arrested during a police raid in November last year.

Detectives say he and his associates consorted with outlaw motorcycle gangs including the Nomads and Finks.

It's also alleged the 24-year-old tried to supply drugs and firearms to an undercover officer at a fast food restaurant in Rutherford in August last year.

Detectives from Strike Force Wilwendam swooped on homes in Gillieston Heights, Rutherford, Telarah and Raymond Terrace last November, arresting five people including Jason Christopher Gibson, and allegedly seized a shotgun, ammunition and a quantity of drugs.

The 24-year-old heads back to Newcastle District Court next month to formally enter his pleas.

Image abc.net.au

Charges laid over raids across the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The mystery police presence in the Hunter was solved late yesterday with police charging five associates of the Nomads and Finks bikie gangs, after raids across the Hunter before 9am.

Five search warrents were carried out yesterday at properties in Gillieston Heights, Raymond Terrace, Rutherford and two homes in Telarah, which lead to the arrests of five associates of the bikie gangs.

A 23-year old Raymond Terrace man has been charged with 61 offenses including multiple offenses of firearm trafficking and drug offenses. He refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today.

A 26-year old Gillieston Heights man was also arrested and charged with 28 offenses to appear in Raymond Terrace Local Court today. A 27-year old Rutherford man has been charged with three offenses including two drug charges and knowingly participating in a criminal group. He was granted conditional bail to appear in Maitland Local Court in December.

Two women were also arrested and charged - a 31 and 32 year old both from Telarah, who will appear in Raymond Terrace and Maitland Local Courts, respectively, today.

The properties were searched and police seized two firearms including a loaded sawn-off shot gun found at the Gillieston Heights property, more than $150, 000 cash, ammunition and electronic stun devices as well as cannabis, methylamphetamine ('ice'), steroids and MDMA. All of which will undergo forensic examination.

The State Crime Command's Gangs Squad Strike Force Wilwendam was established earlier this year to investigate organised crime activity in the Hunter in conjunction with Port Stephens, Central Hunter and Newcastle City Local Area Commands.