Police on the Hunt for man who Robbed East Maitland Bank armed with a Firearm

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Investigations are continuing into an armed robbery at the East Maitland branch of the Maitland Mutual bank.

Police say just after 9:30 yesterday morning a man with his face concealed allegedly entered the building on George Street with a firearm threatening staff and demanding money.

He fled with a sum of cash.

The man was seen leaving the area in a white Holden Commodore with distinctive mag wheels driven by another man. The car had no registration plate.

No one was injured during the hold-up.

Police attended establishing a crime scene and also conducted a canvass of the area.

The armed man is described as being approximately 173cm tall and with a thin to medium build. Police haven't given a description of the driver.

Anyone with any information or saw anything is being urged to come forward.

Gun Found During Vehicle Stop At Wallsend

BY IAN CROUCH

Two people are being questioned by police after a pistol was allegedly found in a car at Wallsend this morning.

Officers noticed a Nissan Navara leaving the car park of the Bunnings Warehouse just before 1.00am and pulled the vehicle over.

They became suspicious and searched the car, allegedly finding the gun under the front passenger seat.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from Singleton and a 21-year-old female passenger from Carrington were arrested.

It's expected they'll be changed with firearm offences.

Nearly 800 Guns From the Hunter Handed In During Amnesty

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Police has received a massive haul of firearms during the National Firearms Amnesty including a whopping 778 from the Hunter region.

The three month amnesty started in July and ran until the end of September in a bid to crack down on the number of guns in the state.

Lake Macquarie has handed in the most with 266, followed by 169 in Port Stephens.

Across the state, nearly 10,000 firearms and firearm-related items including 602 handguns and 1575 shotguns have been surrendered to police.

Image NSW Police Force Facebook page.

NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner of Regional Field Operations Gary Worboys said the response in regional areas has been overwhelming.

“It’s extremely encouraging to see community members recognising the danger posed by these weapons and doing the right thing by handing them in or having them registered,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.

"I think in the country areas its just a part of life out there in terms of firearm ownership and people handing firearms down through generations and these amnesties provide opportunities for people to have a look in sheds and cupboards and come forward and give those in and have them destroyed."

Surrendered items of interest include 20 SKS assault rifles, eight M1 carbine military self-loading rifles, four sub-machine guns, a Colt AR-15 rifle, a .44 calibre magnum revolver, an Adler 110 shotgun, and a Mauser model 1918 T-Gewehr-Bolt Action anti-tank rifle.

It wasn't just firearms which were surrendered to police, under the amnesty 130 prohibited items were handed in including 14 crossbows, 27 suppressors, samurai swords and knives.

Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Field Operations Jeff Loy is also very pleased with the number of guns which are now off the streets because he said gun crime affects everybody.

“In the wrong hands, guns are a lethal weapon so it’s pleasing to see people are keen to do the right thing and have used the opportunity to dispose of firearms and other weapons to ensure they don’t end up in the wrong hands,” Deputy Commissioner Loy said.

Deputy Commissioner Worboys said while so many have been handed in, there's no question there are still some out there in the wrong hands.

"The other thing that's important today is to recognise that we still accept that firearms are a part of criminal entities out there. People have information on that and they need to make sure they bring that forward."

Hunter Greyhound Trainer Charged With Allegedly Possessing Euthenasia Drugs

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A Hunter greyhound trainer has been charged with firearm and drug offences after police raided his Seaham home.

It comes after Greyhound Racing NSW referred reports of irregular betting to the NSW Police Force back in 2016.

Strike Force Inbob was established to investigate the reports which led them to execute two search warrants at homes in Yarramundi and Seaham in April this year where they spoke with two men, aged 42 and 45.

At the homes investigators seized veterinary pharmaceuticals and steroids as well as ammunition which police allege wasn't stored safely, a magazine and knuckle dusters.

The drugs police seized were tested and were discovered to have contained ‘Pentobarbital’ (also known as ‘Pentobarbitone’ and used by veterinarians to euthanize animals), and various testosterone-based steroidal agents.

The two men were issued with Court Attendance Notices yesterday. The 42-year-old Yarramundi man was charged with holder of category A or B licence not have approved safe storage, possess prohibited drug 'Pentobarbital/Pentobarbitone', and possess anabolic or androgenic steroidal agent.

The 45-year-old Seaham man was charged with possess ammunition without holding a licence, possess prohibited weapon, possess prohibited drug 'Pentobarbital/Pentobarbitone', and possess anabolic or androgenic steroidal agent.

Both greyhound trainers head to Downing Centre Local Court on November 7, and investigations are continuing.

Man the victim of a terrifying attack by a man he met online

BY JESSICA ROUSE

UPDATE:

A man accused of shooting another man with a bolt gun at in the Hunter Valley is due to face court again today after being refused bail in Singleton Court.

Stephen Orr allegedly shot the 67-year-old at a home at Paynes Crossing on Sunday, leaving the alleged victim with two fractured vertebrae.

Police say the pair went to a licensed premises at Pokolbin earlier in the day after meeting online.

EARLIER:

A man has been the victim of a terrifying attack in Pokolbin from a man he met online.

Police say, two men - a 55 and 67-year-old - caught up at a pub on Broke Road yesterday afternoon after meeting online.

From there the two men went to a home on Wollombi Road where it's alleged the older man assaulted the 55-year-old with a bolt gun and also threatened him with a firearm.

A physical altercation erupted between the pair before the older man managed to flee and stop a passing motorist.

The motorists took him to Cessnock Hospital and he's since been transferred to John Hunter Hospital with two fractured vertebrae and a laceration to his neck.

While the man nurses his injuries, police commenced investigations which led them to a house on Casey Drive in Singleton where they arrested the 55-year-old.

He was taken to Maitland Police Station where he was charged with cause grevious bodily harm with intent.

He was refused bail and faces Singelton Local Court today.

Man charged after Laguna siege

BY IAN CROUCH and JESSICA ROUSE

Police have now charged the man at the centre of an eight hour siege at Laguna on Tuesday night.

The 46-year-old man is accused of firing several shots at police causing them to take cover in bushland until back-up arrived.

Police say the man and his partner originally went to the house on Tuesday night and threatened to shoot the caretaker, whom managed to flee and raise the alarm.

It's believed the house is at the centre of a property dispute.

Siege at Laguna comes to a peaceful end

BY JESSICA ROUSE

An eight hour siege at Laguna, south west of Cessnock came to a peaceful end at around 6:30 this morning.

Police were called to Murrays Run Road at about 10pm last night responding to reports of a domestic incident and shots being fired.

Police arrived to find a man armed refusing to come out of the house.

A perimeter was established in the area and specialist police were called to the scene to assist officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command.

A man was taken into custody and a number of firearms have been secured by police.

A woman who was reportedly inside the home at the time is assisting police with investigations.

Strike Force Raptor - Banditos gang member arrested

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Strike Force Raptor has struck again in the Hunter, with an associate of the Banditos outlaw motorcycle gang, and his son, charged with firearm offences.

Strike force officers conducted a targeted vehicle stop on a 48 year old man yesterday in Telarah, where shortly after a house was also searched.

A loaded firearm and a magazine, as well as 12-gauge shotgun shells were found at the Brooks Street address - one of the firearms is believed to be a stolen gun from a break-in in 2011.

The 48 year old was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with multiple firearm offences.

He was refused bail and will appear at Maitland Local Court later this month.

A 24 year old man was also arrested in Barnsley, where police conducted another search of a home and found multiple firearms and drugs.

The man was charged with multiple firearm and drug offences and refused bail to appear in Toronto Local Court later today.

UPDATE: Central Hunter LAC raids in Abermain

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Several people will front Maitland Local Court today after  numerous search warrants in the Abermain area were carried out yesterday.

48 police from the Central Hunter Local Area Command's Strike Force Oleria searched properties in Abermain, Weston and Chisholm at around 8:15 yesterday morning.

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 prohibited drug operations.

Among those arrested were five men aged 21, 55, 31, and two 23 year old as well as a 33 year old and 20 year old woman - all arrested with drug and firearm charges. One 51 year old woman is being questioned.

Charges included supply prohibited drug - large commercial quantity, supply prohibited drug - indictable quantity, possess shortened firearm and possess prohibited pistol. 

Police allegedly located and seized numerous items including a handgun, two 12 gauge shotguns, an air rifle, a sawn off .22 rifle, a shortened .22 calibre rifle, assorted ammunition, an extendable baton, an amount of methylamphetamine, cannabis leaf, a number of mobile phones, laptop computers, storage devices, a Honda 125cc motorcycle, and personal documentation.  

                                     Images courtesy of NSW Police Force Facebook page.

Michael Diamond facing court today

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Hunter Olympic shooter Michael Diamond is at Raymond Terrace local court today answering to firearm and drink driving charges which were filed during an alleged domestic dispute with his brother back in May.

He pleaded not guilty to be involved in the domestic dispute at a home in Nelson Bay, as well as to four charges relating to driving under the influence and gun and ammunition storage in May.

Diamond blew three times the blood alcohol limit when police arrested him.

The arrest and charges cost him his spot in this year's Rio Olympics.

The hearing is expected to continue for most of today.

Man arrested after discovery of imitation firearm

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A man has been placed under arrest and charged with possession of an unauthorised prohibited firearm overnight in Nelson Bay.

At about 2am, a 33-year-old male was stopped for an Random Breath Test when police proceeded to search the vehicle.

A replica firearm was found.