Man with Kids in His Car Caught with Drugs and Cash on M1

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man faced Newcastle Local Court yesterday after allegedly being caught with drugs and cash in his car on the M1.

Police say at about 12:15pm on Tuesday, a 51-year-old, was driving a sedan north on the M1 at Mandalong when he was stopped for speeding.

Police conducted a roadside drug test on the man which tested positive for cannabis.

Officers then searched the vehicle locating several bags of cannabis totally 2.4kg, 300 capsules of ecstasy (MDMA) and $11,500 in cash which police allege are the proceeds of crime. A knife was also seized.

Image NSW Police Force.

Two children and another adult were also in the car at the time.

The man was taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug, deal with property proceeds of crime, knowingly deal with proceeds of crime, possess prohibited drug (x5), supply cannabis (x2), possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit, supply prohibited drug, and custody of knife in public place.

He was refused bail.

Image NSW Police Force

Three Charged over Alleged Rape of Young Teenage Girl

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two men and a teenage boy have been charged with the alleged gang rape of a girl after a party in Lake Macquarie.

Police say at about 11pm on Saturday night police were called to a home following reports a 14-year-old girl had been sexually assaulted after leaving a party at Bolton Point.

A crime scene was established at a different home, and after police spoke to the girl, she was taken to the John Hunter Hospital for medical examinations.

After extensive investigations, detectives from the State Crime Command's Child Abuse Squad arrested two men, both aged 18, and took them to Toronto Police Station where they were charged with aggravated sexual assault in company.

They were refused bail and face Newcastle Local Court tomorrow.

Police made another arrest at 10:30 yesterday morning. A 17-year-old boy was taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with aggravated sexual assault in company.

He was refused bail and has appeared at a children's court where he was granted strict conditional bail to reappear on December 18.

Anyone with any information about the incident at Bolton Point are being urged to come forward or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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.

Toronto Police Station Officially Opened

BY IAN CROUCH

Today's official opening of the new Toronto Police Station marks the end of a 5-year planning and construction period for three new stations in the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command.

Former Police Minister, Mike Gallacher announced plans to knock down and re-build the Belmont, Morisset and Toronto stations in 2012, but those plans were almost scuttled in favour of upgrades.

However, the plans did go ahead, with the state government investing $29-million.

The new Belmont Station opened in 2015, Morisset opened in June last year and the $6.8 million Toronto station opened to the public on the site of the old station in Cary Street in March this year.

Emergency Services Minister, Troy Grant was on hand for today's official opening.

Superintendent Brett Greentree says today's official opening is the culmination of many years of hard work.

"As much as I would like to take credit for that, it's my predecessors who put this into place probably a decade ago...things have changed over that period of time - we were only going to get a new police station at Belmont and a refurb at Morisset and Toronto, but we've ended up somehow - and very thankfully- with three new police stations," he said.

The old Toronto Police Station built in the 1960's Picture: theherald.com

The new Toronto Police Station Picture lakesmail.com

Lake Macquarie Local Area Commander Superintendent Brett Greentree

Pair arrested after break-ins at Wallsend

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two people face court today after being charged with break, enter and steal in Lake Macquarie this morning.

At about 1am, the 43-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were seen driving down Royalty Street in West Wallsend with their car headlights off.

They broke into three new homes and took items from the properties which they were seen putting in their car.

Police stopped the maroon Toyota Corolla and searched it, also finding house breaking tools and a knife in their possession.

They were taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with aggravated break and enter, goods in custody, possess house breaking implements and custody of a knife.

They were refused bail.

Boolaroo police station shutting its doors

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Boolaroo Police Station in Lake Macquarie will be shutting its doors next week with officers and staff re-locating to Toronto.

From next Tuesday, 7th March, the new Toronto Police Station will be open to the public but not officially opened until later in the year.

Local Area Commander Superintendent Brett Greentree is assuring the public despite final works still being completed at the new station, it will be open and fully functioning for the public.

"Remember; please do not attempt to contact Boolaroo Police Station as the service will no longer be in use," Superintendent Greentree said.

"I'd also like to remind members of the community that in the event of an emergency they should contact Triple Zero (000) immediately."

Image sourced from: abc.net.au