Tamworth Country Radio Network – Page 79

Man dies in suspicious house fire near Maitland

A man has died and investigations are underway following a fire in Maitland this morning, which police are treating as suspicious.

About 1.50am (Friday 20 February 2015), emergency services were called to a demountable building on Elizabeth Street, Wallalong (about 13km north east of Maitland), following reports of a fire.

Officers attached to NSW Rural Fire Service attended and extinguished the blaze.

The body of a man was located in the building. It is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be the 72-year-old resident.

A crime scene has been established and officers attached to Central Hunter Local Area Command are investigating the cause of the fire, which is believed to be suspicious.

As police continue their inquiries into the circumstances leading up to the incident, they are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward and contact Crime Stoppers.

Motorcyclist injured in crash near Maitland

Witnesses are being sought to a crash involving a motorcycle and car near Maitland yesterday.

About 6.20pm (Wednesday 18 February 2015), a motorcycle and car collided at the intersection of River Road and Denton Drive, Windella, about 10km west of Maitland.

Officers from the Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit (CIU) and Central Hunter Local Area Command attended and commenced an investigation.

The rider, a 19-year-old man, suffered a serious injury to his right arm and was taken by NSW Ambulance Paramedics to John Hunter Hospital.

The driver of the car, a 24-year-old woman, was taken to Maitland Hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

The intersection was closed for more six hours while investigations were conducted.

Police from the CIU are now asking anyone who witnessed the crash, and hasn’t yet spoken to investigators, to come forward.

They are especially interested in anyone who may have seen the motorcycle – a green Kawasaki – or the car – a blue Toyota Camry sedan – before the crash occurred.

Anyone with information should contact the Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit on 02 49290744.

Teenager arrested following armed robbery – Newcastle

A teenager has been charged after being arrested by a witness to an armed robbery in Birmingham Gardens, Newcastle, this morning.

About 9.30am (Monday 16 February 2015), a male entered a service station on Sandgate Road allegedly armed with a knife and threatened staff.

Staff complied with his demands and handed over an amount of cash before he ran from the scene.

A 55-year-old man who witnessed the incident followed the male, who dropped the knife and jumped on a bicycle.

The witness lost sight of the male for a short time before seeing him again at a drain system nearby. The witness gave chase and tackled the male to the ground.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command arrived a short time later and arrested a 17-year-old boy.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with armed robbery (x2) and was refused bail to appear at Children’s Court tomorrow (Thursday 17 February 2015).

Man to face court over theft of terracotta warrior – Swansea

Police have charged a 67-year-old man over the theft of a 175kg statue from a gift shop in Swansea.

CCTV images captured the terracotta warrior being wheeled away from the shop on a trolley about 6.50am on Tuesday 3 February 2015.

During the theft, the head broke off the statue.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have been investigating the incident.

Following these inquiries, a 67-year-old Swansea man was today (Friday 13 February 2015) served a future court attendance notice.

He is due to answer a charge of larceny in Belmont Local Court on 1 April 2015.

At this time, the statue has not been located.

Man's body found floating in Lake Macquarie

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner after a man’s body was found floating in Lake Macquarie a few hours ago.

Around 11am (Friday 13 February 2015), police were called to a section of Lake Macquarie near Marmong Point, where a man was found floating face down in the water. A small boat was floating nearby.

The man was retrieved from the water but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death, which does not appear to be suspicious.

The man, believed to be aged in his sixties or seventies, has not yet been formally identified.

Police release image of bike as part of investigation into B&Es – Armidale

Police from New England have released an image of a bicycle as part of an investigation into a number of break and enter offences in Armidale.

Around 2.30am today (13 February 2015), a residence in Baldwyn Street was broken into.

Police attended and disturbed a man who immediately left the scene on a pushbike. Police chased the man on foot. The man rode a short distance before dumping the bike and subsequently jumped over a number of fences in order to evade police.

He is described as being about 179cm tall and having a thin athletic build. At the time of the break and enter he was wearing dark clothing, a cap and hooded jacket.

Police were unable to find the man and are now appealing for any member of the public who may recognise the bike to contact Armidale Police on (02) 6771 0699 or Crime Stoppers.

The bike is described as a blue and silver Giant branded bike with a rack on the back.

Man charged with fraud offences as investigations into Newcastle fire continue

A man has been charged with fraud offences and perverting the course of justice as police investigations continue into a suspicious fire at a business complex at Newcastle.

The Property Crime Squad and Newcastle City Local Area Command are investigating the fire which destroyed a complex containing five business suites in Kemp Street, The Junction, on Sunday 7 July 2014.

The fire is believed to have been deliberately lit.

During the course of the investigation, detectives uncovered information relating to the alleged creation of false invoices to obtain funding from financial institutions.

Further, detectives will allege a man nominated a false driver after receiving a speeding infringement, thereby transferring the demerit point loss to that person.

Four search warrants were executed at Cameron Park, Broadmeadow, Elermore Vale and The Junction yesterday morning (Thursday 12 February 2015) where numerous documents were seized.

A 64-year-old man was arrested at Toronto a short time later and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with perverting the course of justice, 4 x use false document, and 2 x make false document.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Monday 16 March 2015.

Investigations are continuing.

Child dies in hospital following boating mishap – Belmont

A child who was injured during a boating accident at Lake Macquarie at the weekend has died in hospital.

Emergency services were called to Ada Street, Belmont, about 4.45pm on Saturday (7 February 2015), responding to reports that a ten-year-old boy had fallen into the lake while sailing. The child was wearing a life jacket at the time.

NSW Ambulance Paramedics rendered first aid to the boy before he was taken to John Hunter Hospital.

The child remained in a critical condition until Monday (9 February 2015), when he died.

Officers from the Marine Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and will prepare a report for the Coroner.

Man charged following alleged pursuit – Tamworth

Police have charged a man following an alleged break-in, robbery with wounding, and pursuit, in the Tamworth region yesterday.

About 2.45am (Saturday 7 February 2015), a white Holden Rodeo was stolen from a home on Macquarie Road, Fennell Bay. The owner attended Toronto Police Station and reported the incident.

An investigation was commenced by officers from Oxley Local Area Command.

About 3.15pm (Saturday 7 February 2015), a man driving a white Holden Rodeo allegedly attended service station on Mayne Street, Murrurundi and put petrol in the car before driving off without paying.

Police were contacted and on route received reports of a Holden Rodeo allegedly driving erratically in Tamworth. Officers from Oxley Traffic and Highway Patrol saw the Rodeo on Peel Street and a pursuit was initiated.

After a short time the pursuit was terminated by the officers due to safety concerns.

The Holden Rodeo allegedly continued and collided with two vehicles on Jewry Street, before the driver pulled into a property on Oxley Highway, Bective. The home on the property was broken into and cash and alcohol was stolen and Holden Rodeo was set on fire.

A Toyota Corolla was stolen from the Bective home. A short time later the Toyota was allegedly seen by police from Gunnedah and a pursuit was initiated, before being terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.

The Corolla was driven to Manilla Road, Boggabri, where it allegedly crashed. The driver of passing Holden Commodore, a 45-year-old man, stopped to render assistance to the driver of the Corolla.

The man in the Corolla allegedly punched the Holden driver and hit him over the head with a bottle, before stealing the Commodore.

The 45-year-old man suffered a deep laceration to the back of his head and was taken to Gunnedah Hospital, he has since been released.

A short time later the Holden was seen by police on Boggabri-Manilla Road and a pursuit was initiated, before the Commodore crashed into a barbed wire fence and the driver ran from car.

Police pursued the man on foot and during the arrest of the 33-year-old man, he allegedly punched officers. He was taken to Tamworth Police Station.

The man was charged with 16 offences;

– Robbery armed with offensive weapon;

– Two counts of steal motor vehicle;

– Dishonestly obtain property by deception;

– Three counts of negligent driving;

– Break, enter and steal;

– Damage property by fire;

– Three counts of police pursuit – Skye’s law;

– Aggravated robbery inflict actual bodily harm;

– Assault police;

– Resist police, and;

– Drive motor vehicle during disqualification.

The man was refused bail to appear at Tamworth Bail Court today (Sunday 8 February 2015).

Boys charged after adults allegedly assaulted, robbed – Armidale

Two boys have been charged after three adults were allegedly assaulted and robbed at Armidale overnight.

It was about 11pm (Saturday 7 February 2015), that three men, all aged 19, were at a BBQ area in Curtis Park, Kirkwood Street, when they were approached by two boys.

Police have been told the boys allegedly asked them for cigarettes and money but were declined.

Police will allege a group of young people then surrounded the three men and threatened them.

One of the men was allegedly threatened and head-butted while a second man was also allegedly threatened and had $40 stolen.

A third man went to the first man’s assistance and was allegedly burnt on the neck with a cigarette, hit with a bottle and punched in the face. He ran away but was allegedly chased by the group.

Police from Armidale were alerted and arrested two teenage boys near the scene.

The boys were taken to Armidale Police Station.

A 13-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of robbery in company.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with two counts of robbery in company, two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in company, and wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

The boys, both from Armidale, were refused bail to appear in a children’s court today (Sunday 8 February 2015).