Bolton Point Man Facing Court On Drugs Supply Charges

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to front court today (Wednesday 11 December, 2024) accused of running a drug house at Bolton Point.

Police executed a search warrant at a home on Karina Place yesterday and allegedly found and seized 257 cannabis plants varying in size from 30cm to two metres in height.

They also seized 1.3kg of dry cannabis leaf inside resealable bags.

A 29-year-old man was arrested at the house.

He's been charged with cultivate and supply a commercial quantity of cannabis and diverting electricity without authority and has been refused bail to face Belmont Court today.

Concerns Growing For Missing Man From Lake Macquarie

 BY IAN CROUCH

Lake Macquarie police are appealing for help to find a missing man.

60-year-old Patrick Murphy, who's known to the Morisset area, was last seen at the Kotara and Awaba train stations.

Concerns are held for his welfare as he suffers from multiple serious medical conditions and is without his medication.

Patrick is described as being Caucasian with grey long hair and a grey beard and was last seen wearing jeans, grey shoes, a white t-shirt and vest.

It's believed he could be travelling by train and has previously travelled to Rutherford, Maitland, Scone and Lismore.

Patrick Murphy

Units Destroyed By Fire At Cessnock

 BY IAN CROUCH

Fire has destroyed a two unit townhouse at Cessnock overnight.

Newcastle Fire Command says ten fire trucks from six stations were called to Dixon Street at about 10.45pm on Monday to find the unit complex up in flames.

It's taken crews just over an hour to bring the fire under control, with crews remaining at the scene until 1.00am on Tuesday.

Fire and Rescue says 21 people were evacuated from the complex.

NSW Ambulance says Intensive Care Paramedics assessed 3 patients at the scene.

Police say a 33-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman were taken to Cessnock Hospital in a stable condition with smoke inhalation.

Police say the cause of the fire is undetermined and a crime scene has been established.

Forensic officers and fire investigators will examine the scene later this morning. 

Police are appealing for information or dashcam footage as investigations continue.
 

Appeal For Information Following Fire At Lake Macquarie Council's Administration Centre

BY JORDAN REGNIS

Police have released a CCTV image of two people they wish to speak with following an alleged arson attack at Lake Macquarie Council's Administration Centre last month.

About 3:50am on Wednesday 27 November, emergency services were called to the building on Main Road, Speers Point, following reports of a fire.

Fire and Rescue NSW crews worked to extinguish the blaze; however, the building sustained extensive damage with repairs estimated to cost several million dollars.

Inquiries by strike force detectives have established that two persons were in the vicinity of the council building at the time of the incident.

Anyone able to identify the persons, or with information or dashcam footage from the area between 2am and 4:30am on Wednesday 27 November is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

                              The CCTV image: Picture by NSW Police

Fatal Crash Closes New England Highway At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH 

One person is dead and another has been airlifted to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash near Muswellbrook.

Emergency services were called to the New England Highway at Liddell just before midnight on Tuesday to reports of a 3 vehicle crash.

Police say two cars collided before a truck later hit the vehicles.

They arrived to find a man deceased in one of the vehicles, while the 22-yea-old female driver of a second car was trapped before being freed and flown to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

The truck driver in his 40's was uninjured and taken to Muswellbrook Hospital for mandatory testing.

The Highway remains closed with diversions in place.

It's been a horror week on the region's roads, with a double fatality last Saturday at Denman and the death of a man in his 50's in a crash at Murulla north of Scone on Monday afternoon. 

Man Gaoled For Threatening Paramedics With A Knife At Weston

 BY IAN CROUCH

A man who threatened to kill paramedics while armed with a knife at Weston has been gaoled for at least 8 months.

Paramedics were called to a warehouse on Johnson Avenue on Monday night to treat 53-year-old Rodney Allan Daley for low blood sugar.

But Cessnock Court heard yesterday he began screaming at the emergency service workers saying he was going to kill them, breaking free from family members and pulling out a 12cm knife before moving towards the paramedics who fled and called for help.

Daley pleaded guilty to being armed with intent to commit indictable offence and assault frontline health workers - no actual bodily harm.

He also pleaded guilty to separate charges of intentionally destroy property and unlawful entry.

Daley was handed a 16 month sentence with a non-parole period of 8 months.

Two People Killed In Horror Smash At Muswellbrook

 BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations are continuing into a horrific crash at Muswellbrook which claimed the lives of two people.

Emergency services were called to Denman Road at about 5.30 on Saturday afternoon following reports of a head-on crash involving two cars.

A woman in her 70's who was driving one of the cars died at the scene along with a male passenger believed to be in his 20's in the second car.

Three other people, a man and two women in their 20's were treated at the scene.

The man and one of the women were airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital with serious head and pelvic injuries.

The other woman was taken by ambulance to the John Hunter.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.