Alleged Pursuit Offender To Face Toronto Local Court

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face today over a high speed pursuit from Edgeworth to Elermore Vale last week.

Officers attempted to stop a Ford Falcon on Minmi Road early last Thursday morning, but the driver sped off and kept going despite the use of road spikes.

He was later arrested by a dog squad officer after dumping his car at Tomago.

The 27-year-old was treated from a bite wound in the John Hunter Hospital.

He's since been charged with three outstanding warrants and three traffic offenses and has been refused bail to face Toronto Local Court.

Wanted Man Heads to Court After Dramatic Police Chase

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The man at the centre of the dramatic police chase across the Hunter heads to court today on a dozen charges.

Just after 10am yesterday police allege they attempted to pull the 22-year-old over in Wallsend but he refused to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

Police chased the man to the Hunter Expressway where they terminated the chase for a short time for safety reasons. Officers spotted him not long after driving on the Expressway on the wrong side of the road and gave chase for a second time.

The man managed to avoid to deployments of road spikes by police and then drove to Newcastle Link Road and then onto the M1 Pacific Motorway. It's here police allege he forced a vehicle off the road by colliding with it and then attempted and failed to "car jack" it.

He then successfully stole a white Audi Sedan allegedly armed with an edged weapon and took off.

Police in the area initiated another chase, but had to terminate not long after when the 22-year-old crossed to the wrong side of the Motorway.

Once he reached the Dora Creek Bridge, he tried and failed to "car jack" another three vehicles.

This is where police caught up with the man and tried to arrest him. The 22-year-old rammed into an unmarked police vehicle which caused minor injuries to two officers. But thankfully with the help of other officers the man was finally arrested at the scene.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station and slapped with a dozen charges: take detain person with intent to obtain advantage, armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, drive motor vehicle during disqualification period, aggravated take drive vehicle whilst armed with offensive weapon, resist officer in execution of duty, intentionally choke person with recklessness, common assault, display unauthorised registration plates, and a warrant for revocation of parole.

The 22-year-old was originally wanted for Domestic Violence matters.

He was refused bail and faces Toronto Local Court today.

Hunter Car Stealing Syndicate Smashed

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police have smashed a long time running car-stealing racket in the Hunter.

Strike Force Luchetti has been investigating a syndicate of vehicle theft throughout the Central Hunter and Lake Macquarie Local Area Commands since September where vehicles were stolen and parts of vehicles were exchanged for drugs.

Following extensive investigations, an 18-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday.

He was charged with two counts of steal from motor vehicle, trespass, goods in custody, self administer prohibited drug and fraud.

The 18-year-old was granted conditional bail and will appear at Toronto Local Court next Tuesday (December 12, 2017).

Strike Force Luchetti investigations continue.

Man Charged after Brutal Assault in Lake Macquarie

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been charged after a vicious assault at Lake Macquarie last month.

A 41-yyear-old man was at a sporting function at Waterboard Oval, Blackalls park on Saturday 16th September when he was allegedly punched by another man.

He was taken to the John Hunter Hospital suffering two skull fractures, brain bleeds and a perforated eardrum.

Police launched an extensive investigation and yesterday arrested a 37-year-old man at Belmont Police Station.

The Woongarah man was charged with recklessly inflict grievous bodily harm and granted conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on October 24.

Man threatens couple with screwdriver

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Toronto Local Court in July after allegedly intimidating a man and woman and verbally abusing others near his house in Lake Macquarie.

Police have been told that at about 2:30pm, a man began approaching and verbally abusing a number of people who were walking or in their cars at Terrigal Street, Morisset.

It's alleged he threatened a man and woman who were sitting in their car with a screwdriver. It's also claimed he verbally abused other people.

Officers were called to the location and a nearby school was placed into lockdown as a precaution.

Police arrested the 30-year-old man and he was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with two counts of intimidation as well as malicious damage and granted conditional bail.

Man pulls a gun on terrified workers

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Toronto Local Court today after he threatened staff at an Argenton convenience store yesterday.

Staff were left shaken but unharmed after the 34-year-old man and a woman became involved in an argument with the employees at the Main Road store before both left the store.

It's reported they returned a short time later, with the man allegedly armed with a shotgun.

The terrified workers fled to the back room and locked themselves inside, calling the police.

The pair left the store and police initiated an investigation.

The man was arrested last night at Belmont Police Station and charged with armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, intimidation and malicious damage.

He was refused bail.


Meanwhile,

The driver allegedly involved in a pursuit from Maitland to Buchanan on Wednesday night has now been charged.

He was taken to hospital after the chase suffering a suspected heart attack.

The man will face court today charged with five offences including dangerous driving, and driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

Morisset Hospital Patient Charged With Murder

BY IAN CROUCH

A psychiatric patient at Morisset Hospital is due to face Toronto Local Court today accused of stabbing a fellow patient to death.

Emergency services were called to the health facility in Jacaranda Avenue just after 6.40pm yesterday after a 41-year-old man was found deceased.

Police say he appeared to have suffered a stab wound.

Following inquiries, detectives arrested a 25-year-old man a short distance away from the hospital.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with murder

Lake Macquarie men charged with large scale drug supply

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Strike Force Dunrossil with the assistance of officers from the Gangs Squad's Strike Force Raptor have arrested and charged two men as part of an investigation into large commercial drug supply in Lake Macquarie.

Seven search warrants were executed at about 11am on Tuesday for five homes in Cooranbong, Bolcolyn, Eraring, Terrigal, and Sunshine and two Morisset businesses.

A 35-year old man was arrested at Morisset and taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with two counts of commercial drug supply.

He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court yesterday where he was formally refused bail to appear again today.

A 28-year old man was also arrested at another Morisset property and taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with two counts of drug supply and recklessly deal in proceeds of crime.

He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear in Toronto Local Court on 24th January next year.

Police allegedly seized more than $100, 000 in cash, methylamphetamine, cocaine, steroids, various prohibited weapons, mobile phones, business documents and a BMW X5.

Police continue to investigate.

Image courtesy of NSW Police Force Facebook page.

Woman Arrested Over Stabbing At Warners Bay

BY IAN CROUCH

 A woman is due to front court over a stabbing at Warners Bay last night.

Police say a man and woman were arguing at their home at about 9.30 last night when the woman allegedly armed herself with a knife.

The man grabbed the knife, suffering a cut to the hand, and was then allegedly stabbed in the arm and back with another knife.

The woman suffered a head injury after being pushed into a refrigerator during the incident.

Four children were at home at the time but weren't injured.

Police were called to the home several hours later and the 32-year-old man was taken to the John Hunter Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

The 56-year-old woman was taken to Belmont Hospital before being taken to Belmont Police Station, where she was charged with reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The woman has been refused bail and is due to appear at Toronto Local Court today.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.