BREAKING! Police pursuit ends in arrest at Lake Macquarie

BY JARROD MELMETH

A man has been arrested after a senior constable was injured during an attempted arrest and police pursuits in Lake Macquarie.

Police alleged about 2:45pm on Tuesday, officers attended a carpark at Bennetts Green where they noticed a grey Volkswagen Amarok Ute with stolen number plates.

When officers approached the vehicle the male driver attempted to drive off, during which a male senior constable was injured after his arm was pushed into the damaged windows broken glass.

The driver then fled the scene in the Volkswagen, heading into Windale. 

Police initiated a pursuit into the surrounding streets but terminated it a short time later after failing to locate the vehicle.

On Wednesday as part of ongoing inquiries police attempted to stop the same vehicle northbound on the Pacific Highway about 9am before a pursuit was again initiated reaching speeds of up to 160km/hr in a 100km/hr zone.

During the pursuit the driver crashed into bushland off Lakeview Parade, Pelican.

Following an extensive search involving the dog unit, the 35-year-old was arrested in Little Pelican a short time later.

The Caves Beach man was taken to Belmont Police Station where he is assisting police with their investigations. 

Police arresting the 35-year-old. 

Woman Arrested in Relation to Baby's Death at New Lambton

BY MADELAINE MCNEILL

Strike Force Wandearah detectives have arrested a woman in relation to the death of a 6-month-old boy at New Lambton in February.

The 26-year-old was arrested in Marrickville yesterday and charged with do act with intent to pervert the course of justice, failure of provide for child causing danger of death, and drive whilst disqualified.

The baby boy died at John hunter Hospital on February 10.

It was later determined he died as a result of a traumatic head injury.

A 28-year-old man arrested in February remains before the courts.

Man Hides in Roof after Violent Home Invasion at Weston

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Maitland Local Court today after stabbing a man during a violent home invasion in Weston on the weekend.

Police say at 2:30 yesterday morning (Sunday 19th November 2017) a 29-year-old man entered a home on Ninth Street through an unlocked door, allegedly armed with a 30cm hunting knife.

He allegedly attacked a 35-year-old man who was home at the time - punching him in the face several times and stabbing him in the left hand.

The offender ran off and the victim was taken to Cessnock Hospital for treatment and was last reported to have been in a stable condition.

At about 10pm last night police attended a home on Coulson Avenue, Cessnock to find the 35-year-old offender hiding in the roof cavity.

When police tried to bring him down he allegedly broke through the roof tiles, jumped off the roof and ran through several backyards before police used capsicum spray to arrest him.

He was refused bail and charged with aggravated break and enter with inflict actual bodily harm, aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence escape police custody, and resist officer in execution of duty.

Man's attempt to escape police didn't go to plan

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man will face Belmont Local Court later this month after an attempt to evade police didn't work out in his favor.

The 40-year-old man reversed his car into a police car at his home on the Pacific Highway yesterday morning after police turned up to arrest him over alleged domestic violence matters.

He didn't come quietly reversing his white Holden utility into the police car.

The officer escaped with only minor injuries and didn't require treatment.

He was arrested and taken to Belmont Police Station where he was charged with alleged domestic violence telecommunication offences, malicious damage and using a motor vehicle to avoid apprehension.

Police chase ends with car breaking down in Broke

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police were led on a lengthy car chase through the Hunter Valley last night which reached speeds of 100km/hr and lasted just over an hour.

Officers were patrolling Mount View Road in Pokolbin when they noticed a female driver in a white Mazda 323 believed to be linked to a spate of break and enters in the area.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle but it sped up and the chase began through Cessnock, Bellbird, Paxton, Millfield and Laguna ending up back in Broke after 61 minutes. At one stage the female driver of the Mazda 323 rammed a police car.

The car ironically broke down in Broke and the 36-year-old Cessnock woman was arrested.

She was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with 15 offenses relating to last night's chase and is under investigation for the alleged break and enters in Pokolbin.

UPDATE: One of Australia's most wanted men arrested in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE and IAN CROUCH

After more than two years on the run, one of the Australia's most wanted men will face Raymond Terrace Local Court today.

Police say 42-year-old Darren Rispen disappeared after being granted bail in 2014 over his involvement in a drug syndicate.

He'd assumed a new identity in that time growing a Ned Kelly-style beard and was dating a woman who had no idea of his past life. He was taken by surprise when police arrested him in Nelson Bay yesterday.


EARLIER

One of Australia's most wanted men has been arrested in Nelson Bay this morning.

The 42-year-old was arrested by police from the Middle Eastern Organised Crime Squad at about 11:30am.

He was placed on Crime Stoppers most wanted list in 2016 after he was granted bail in 2014 charged with alleged drug-related offences and allegedly directing a criminal group, but failed to comply with the bail conditions. A warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest.

Following extensive inquiries since 2014, he was arrested this morning and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he's expected to be charged with the arrest warrant and will most likely appear at court later today.

The man is one of 19 people on Crime Stoppers most wanted list throughout Australia which was compiled in 2016.

In response, the NSW Police Force teamed up with Crime Stoppers Australia for Operation Roam, a nationwide campaign that promotes the exchange of information, regarding wanted people, between policing jurisdictions across the country.

Arrest made over Carly McBride murder

BY JESSICA ROUSE

In what has been a nearly three-year long investigation, police have made a breakthrough arrest this morning in relation to the murder of Lake Macquarie woman Carly McBride.

The 31-year old from Belmont disappeared in September 2014 during a visit to Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley.

Strike Force Karabi was formed to investigate her disappearance leading to the search of bushland and properties in the Muswellbrook area, and in August last year, the remains of Ms McBride were found in roadside scrub at Owens Gap on the outskirts of Scone.

After extensive investigations, strike force investigators arrested a 39-year-old man just after 8.00am today at San Remo on the Central Coast.

He's assisting detectives with their inquires at Wyong Police Station.

Detectives have also executed a search warrant at the 39-year-old man's home nearby at Buff Point.

Carly McBride

Protest ends peacefully

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police say their presence at coal stockpiles in Newcastle early this morning was warranted after Greenpeace and other protestors chose the huge stockpile to send a message to the Commonwealth Bank.

Protestors took aim at the bank, unfurling a banner which read "COMM BANKS COAL KILLS" after discovering the bank loaned $310 million to the port in 2014.

It's everyone's democratic right to protest, and police agree, but only while it stays within the rules of the law which wasn't the case in Newcastle this morning.

"Certainly lawful protests and peaceful protest is a democratic right and we certainly support that - it only becomes an issue when there is unlawful conduct such as going to someone else's place, or you know attacking vehicles or any other sort of criminal conduct," said Chief Inspector Trevor Shields.

Chief Inspector Trevor Shields says the arrests police made were warranted since they had trespassed on land.

Violent home invasion at East Maitland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 19-year-old man is facing court today after a terrifying home invasion in East Maitland overnight.

Just after 9pm, three males forced their way into a Curtin Street home and assaulted a 20-year-old male resident punching him to the ground while a fourth man waited outside.

A 20-year-old woman was at home at the time as well, when the man was kicked on the ground and left with minor injuries.

The four males then fled the scene in a silver vehicle.

It wasn't long before police found the vehicle in the carpark of a licensed premises in East Maitland, and a short time later, they arrested a 19-year-old man on Molly Morgan Drive.

He was charged with aggravated break and enter and commit a serious indictable offence as well as resist an officer in the execution of duty.

Police are still on the hunt for the other three men.

Crackdown on bikie gangs in the Hunter continues

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

The crackdown on bikie gangs in the Hunter has continued with police carrying out raids in Lake Macquarie.

Officers from the Gangs Squad and Strike Force Raptor and Hunter police carried out investigations under Strike Force Batterson in relation to violent acts believed to be related to a dispute between rival gangs.

In all, 15 properties were searched here and in Sydney including four home units in Lake Macquarie.

Police have since seized a number of drugs, ammunition, drugs and cash and several members of the Finks and Nomads bikie gangs have been arrested.

Armed robber hands himself in

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Allegedly armed with a machete, a man attempted to rob a restaurant at Lake Macquarie overnight, but in the end, he handed himself in.

Police allege just after closing time at 10pm the 21-year-old approached a restaurant on the Pacific Highway near High Street at Belmont.

He tried to gain entry to the building via a closed side entrance and then demanded money from an employee before fleeing empty handed.

Police began investigations, but before long the man handed himself in at Belmont Police Station.

He was arrest and charged with robbery whilst armed with an offensive weapon and being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He faces Newcastle Local Court today.

Childs toy thwarts mans escape from police

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Narrabri man's escape from police in Adamstown has been thwarted, after he tripped on a children's water toy while trying to outrun police.

The 28 year old man was stopped by Newcastle officers in his Maroon Holden Commodore on Glebe Street at about 12pm yesterday.

The man was wanted on three outstanding warrants, and in the midst of being arrested he resisted police and ran off.

Police have been told as the man was running away from officers he allegedly slipped and fell on a children's water toy.

He was consequently arrested a short distance away and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was refused bail.

The man was charged with a number of offenses including escaping lawful custody, resisting arrest, two counts of larceny and the three outstanding warrants.

He will appear in Newcastle Local Court later today.

Man assaults three strangers on Charlestown Road

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An intoxicated man has been charged after he assaulted three men he didn't know on Charlestown Road in Charlestown yesterday.

At about 3:30pm the man left a licensed premises when he then began assaulting an unknown man who was simply walking past the location.

The 24 year old then moved on assaulting another man he didn't know, before making his way into traffic punching a 43 year old man several times in the head, who was stopped in the traffic in his car.

Before long the man was apprehended by shocked onlookers and held until police arrived at the scene.

The man did resist arrest and had to be subdued with OC spray before being taken to Belmont Police Station.

He has been charged with affray, resist arrest, common assault and offensive language, and refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today.

Police are still investigating and are urging onlookers, and the unknown victims, to come forward and give statements.

None of the victims required medical treatment.

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.

Eight charged with drug related offenses in the Hunter

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A number of arrests were carried out yesterday in the areas of Abermain, Weston and Chisholm  leading to the arrest of five males and three females.

Strike Force Oleria have been investigating the supply of prohibited drugs since October this year, and carried out six search warrants and six crime scene warrants in relation to drug operations.

48 police from Central Hunter Local Area Command were deployed to carry out the arrests.

All eight people were charged with drug related offenses and refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today.

20 man strong pub brawl in Sandgate

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Police are still after two unknown men and several other people involved in a 20 people strong brawl at a hotel in Sandgate Road over the weekend.

Shortly before midnight on Saturday, two men were escorted from the hotel by staff after a verbal altercation.

Several others followed the men outside and a brawl ensued.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended the scene locating 15 people still in the area.

Many of those involved suffered injuries from minor lacerations to a possible broken jaw.

An 18-year old man was arrested and charged with affray and behaving in an offensive manner.

He has been granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 19 January 2017.

Investigations are continuing and anyone with any information are urged to contact police or call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.