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A man has been charged after allegedly producing a replica firearm following a traffic incident at Glendale, near Lake Macquarie today.

About 1.30pm (Tuesday 12 May 2015), a car and a white Isuzu tipper truck were travelling south along Lake Road at Wallsend, when the occupants of both vehicles allegedly exchanged finger gestures following a traffic incident.

Police were told both vehicles came to be side-by-side and the driver of the Isuzu truck allegedly pointed a silver handgun at the occupants of the car.

The two occupants of the car pulled in behind the truck and contacted police.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command located the truck driving along Racecourse Road at Teralba.

The truck and its three occupants were stopped and searched by police and a silver plastic replica handgun was allegedly located inside the cabin.

The 21-year-old driver of the truck was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with possess unauthorised pistol and two counts of common assault.

He was given conditional bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Wednesday 27 May 2015.

Police have released an image of a man they believe can assist with their inquiries into an incident where a man performed a lewd act in front of two children at Waratah last week.

About 3.15pm on Thursday 7 May 2015, a man approached two children, both aged 12.

Police have been told the man exposed himself and then performed a lewd act in front of the children.

The offender then fled from the area and police were contacted.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended a short time later but could not locate the man. The children were not injured during the incident.

Investigators have obtained a CCTV image of a man they believe may be able to assist them with their inquiries.

The man in the image is described as being of Caucasian appearance and between 30 and 40 years old. He had a medium complexion, average height and slim build.

He is described as wearing a dark blue hooded jacket, white shorts, heavy shoes, a red peaked baseball cap and was carrying a blue bag.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1 800 333 000.

Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and a reward of up to $1000 is payable for information which leads to an arrest.

Police have charged two men following a police pursuit at Newcastle overnight.

About 1.40am today (Tuesday 12 May 2015), an off duty police officer observed suspicious behaviour by two men who were approaching unattended cars in a car park at New Lambton.

A short time later police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and observed two men in a stolen vehicle.

The officers drove towards the stolen car and activated their warning lights and sirens but the men’s vehicle mounted the footpath and drove away.

As the stolen vehicle entered the confines of the nearby Harker Oval a police pursuit commenced.

The officers were able to follow and observe the stolen car from a road that adjoins the oval which is surrounded by cyclone fencing.

The driver of the stolen car attempted to ram the fence in order to escape but the vehicle became trapped.

Both men were arrested without incident and conveyed to Waratah Police Station.

The 22-year-old driver from Summerland Point was charged with Skyes Law (pursuit), suspended driver, drive conveyance without consent of owner and outstanding warrants.

The 18-year-old from Belmont was charged with being carried in a conveyance and an outstanding warrant.

Both men were refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Police are appealing for public assistance following an armed robbery near Maitland overnight.

About 8pm (Sunday 10 May 2015), a man entered a hotel via Young Street, Heddon Greta, and threatened the manager with a firearm.

The man fled the location with cash a short time later.

Witnesses saw the man getting into a vehicle that was parked on Young Street, near the intersection of Trenchard Street.

The vehicle was last seen heading north toward Cliftleigh.

No one was injured during the incident.

Officers attached to Central Hunter Local Area Command were contacted and launched an investigation.

A crime scene was established at the location and examined by detectives.

Inquiries into the matter are continuing and police would now like to speak with a man who may be able to assist in the investigation.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his early 20s, about 178cm tall, with dark-coloured eyes and of a skinny build.

He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured hooded-jumper, long dark pants, tan-coloured garden style gloves and a white bandana across his face.

Anyone who knows the man’s identity, or has any information that could assist police, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Child Abuse Squad detectives have charged an 18-year-old man with the aggravated indecent assault of a four-year-old girl at a library in Cessnock, in the state’s Hunter region.

Police were told the girl was in the library’s play area on Wednesday 6 May 2015 when she was approached by an 18-year-old man.

The man allegedly kissed and touched the child before he was challenged by a witness. The man was not known to the child.

Detectives from the Child Abuse Squad at Newcastle commenced investigations and arrested an 18-year-old man at Cessnock Police Station on Friday afternoon.

He was charged with aggravated indecent assault and granted conditional bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 20 May 2015.

The Child Abuse Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate crimes against children, including sexual assault, physical abuse and serious cases of neglect. The squad works with the Department of Family and Community Services and NSW Health.

A business has been destroyed following a fire at Willow Tree in the Hunter Valley Local Area Command last night.

Just before 8pm (Saturday 9 May 2015), emergency services attended New England Highway after receiving information about a building well alight.

The antique store, which is no longer trading, was entirely engulfed in flames and as a precautionary measure neighbouring properties were evacuated.

As a result of the incident the highway was blocked for over four hours. No one was injured.

A crime scene has been established and an exclusion zone was implemented due to toxic smoke.

Investigations are continuing into the circumstances surrounding the incident; however, police are treating it as suspicious.

Emergency services have attended a boat fire at Lake Macquarie last night, which is not being treated as suspicious.

About 8.30pm (Friday 8 May 2015), a 60-year-old man was on a 35-foot vessel approximately 50 metres into Lake Macquarie, adjacent to Styles Point, Rathmines, when he noticed flames onboard.

The man fled on an attached safety boat and alerted emergency services.

He suffered minor injuries and did not require treatment. No one else was on the vessel at the time of the incident.

Fire Brigade officers extinguished the fire; however the boat had submerged under the water.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended and commenced investigations.

Initial inquiries have led police to believe the fire was not deliberately lit.

Marine Rescue officers with the assistance of the Fire Brigade are expected to bring the submerged vessel in this morning (Saturday 9 May 2015).

Police are investigating a two-vehicle crash yesterday, in the state’s Hunter region.

About 5.20pm (Friday 8 May 2015), a 21-year-old woman was travelling in a Ford Laser hatchback east along Richardson Road, Campvale.

Police have been told a 21-year-old woman was travelling in a Ford Focus west on the same road at the same time, when the two vehicles collided head-on in the west-bound lane.

Emergency services were called and both women were assisted out of the vehicles.

The women were treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where they remain in stable conditions.

No one else was injured during the incident.

Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol – Hunter Crash Investigation Unit attended and commenced investigations.