Critical incident investigation – Newcastle

A critical incident investigation has been launched following the critical injury of a man at Newcastle Police Station today.

About 6.10pm (Thursday 3 March 2016), a 45-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station.

While speaking to police, he produced a sharp object and began to injure himself.

The man was Tasered by police and restrained.

He has been taken to John Hunter Hospital for surgery and is now in a stable condition.

A critical incident team from Tuggerah Lakes Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

No further details are available at this time.

Two arrested over alleged charity fraud – Albury

A man and woman will face court next month after allegedly defrauding a charity, in southern NSW.

It will be alleged that over a period of about two years, a 40-year-old man and 40-year-old woman allegedly conducted fraudulent fundraising activities in the Albury community, raising over $100,000.

In October 2015, detectives from Albury Local Area Command were notified and commenced an investigation.

As a result of their inquiries, last Friday (26 February 2016), a 40-year-old man and 40-year-old woman were issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for fraud.

The pair will face Albury Local Court on 5 April 2016.

Police seek man on arrest warrant – Cootamundra

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a man wanted by virtue of arrest warrant in the Young area.

Jamie Light, aged 40, also known as Michael Walsh, is wanted in relation to five outstanding arrest warrants for fraud offences.

He is described as being Caucasian in appearance, between 190-195cm tall, brown eyes, brown hair, beard and a moustache.

He is known to frequent Young, Cootamundra, Wagga Wagga, Canberra, Goulburn and Shellharbour areas.

Anyone who sees Jamie Light is advised not to approach him but to contact Young Police Station (02) 6382 8199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Driver and passenger both caught speeding in same BMW on Hume Highway – Kyeamba

Two drivers have been stung speeding at up to 191km/h on the Hume Highway in the same BMW within two hours of each other.

NSW highway patrol officers said they spotted the BMW four-wheel-drive travelling at 166km/h on the Hume Highway at Kyeamba, near Tarcutta, about 10pm on Monday.

Its 29-year-old male driver was hit with a traffic infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h, and had his licence instantly suspended for six months.

The car was first detected speeding at Tarcutta, then pulled over two hours later after speeding through Coolac and Bookham.

His female passenger jumped in the driver’s seat and the pair continued their journey but only an hour and a half later, police received reports of a BMW travelling at high-speed on the Hume Highway at Coolac and Bookham.

A 24-year-old woman in the same BMW was pulled over at Yarra shortly after midnight after police detected the car travelling at 191km/h.

It was later revealed her licence was suspended.

She was issued a field court attendance notice for driving in a dangerous manner, exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h, and driving while suspended.

She is expected to appear before Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday, March 22.

The car was taken to Goulburn, where the man and woman were forced to make alternate travel arrangements, NSW Police said.

Suspicious boat fire – Lake Macquarie

Police from the Lake Macquarie Local Area Command are conducting inquiries into the cause of a suspicious boat fire.

Around 2am, emergency services were called to York Street, Teralba, following reports of an explosion.

Police attended the scene, where they found a boat on fire. The vessel, a Mariner 780 cruiser, had also been cut adrift from the wharf where it had been docked.

Personnel from Fire and Rescue NSW extinguished the blaze, with police now investigating the cause.

The fire has been deemed suspicious and officers are appealing for anyone with information of relevance to come forward.

Man charged and vehicle confiscated following pursuit – Tumblong

A man has been charged and his vehicle confiscated following a pursuit in the state’s south today.

About 2.40pm (Wednesday 2 March 2016), police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting speed checks on the Hume Highway, Tumblong, when they detected a Holden Commodore travelling at 197k/h in a 110km/h sign posted area.

Officers attempted to stop the Commodore; however, the driver failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

The vehicle eventually stopped near the West Street exit on the Hume Highway, Gundagai, and the 29-year-old male driver was arrested.

Following subsequent checks, police noted the Queensland registration did not match the vehicle, and on inspection, they noticed the plates were attached by Velcro on top of different registration plates.

The Queensland man was taken to Gundagai Police Station and charged with police pursuit (Skye’s Law), exceed speed over 45km/h, and unlawfully possess plates.

He has been refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 3 March 2016).

His licence was suspended on the spot and his vehicle has been confiscated for three months.

Vehicle detected at high-speed twice in one night – Traffic and Highway Patrol

Two motorists have been caught travelling more than 50km/h over the speed limit in the same car while travelling on the Hume Highway in the state’s south.

About 10pm yesterday (Monday 29 February 2016), police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command detected a BMW 4WD travelling at 166km/h in the sign posted 110km/h zone at Kyeamba, near Tarcutta.

Officers stopped the BMW and issued the 29-year-old male driver with a Traffic Infringement Notice for exceed speed – over 45km/h.

This infringement carries a fine of $2306 and an instant six-month licence suspension.

The female passenger then took over from the driver and the pair left the location.

Between 11.25pm and 11.45pm, police received reports from motorists about a BMW 4WD travelling at high-speed on the Hume Highway at Coolac and Bookham.

Just after midnight (Tuesday 1 March 2016), police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command detected the same BMW 4WD travelling at 191km/h in the sign posted 110km/h zone at Yarra.

Officers stopped the BMW and spoke with the 24-year-old female driver.

Subsequent checks of her licence revealed her licence was suspended.

She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive in a manner dangerous, exceed speed – more than 45km/h, and drive while suspended.

She is due to appear at Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday 22 March 2016.

The vehicle was escorted to Goulburn to ensure the man and woman could make other travel arrangements from a safe location.

Between 11.25pm and 11.45pm, police received reports from motorists about a BMW 4WD travelling at high-speed on the Hume Highway at Coolac and Bookham.

Just after midnight (Tuesday 1 March 2016), police from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command detected the same BWM 4WD travelling at 191km/h in the sign posted 110km/h zone at Yarra.

Officers stopped the BMW and spoke with the 24-year-old female driver.

Subsequent checks of her licence revealed her licence was suspended.

She was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive in a manner dangerous, exceed speed – more than 45km/h, and drive while suspended.

She is due to appear at Goulburn Local Court on Tuesday 22 March 2016.

The vehicle was escorted to Goulburn to ensure the man and woman could make other travel arrangements from a safe location.

Investigations continue into the disappearance of Armidale man – Strike Force Annan

Police investigating the disappearance of a man from the state’s New England Region more than 20 years ago have executed a crime scene warrant in Armidale.

William (Bill) Roach, then aged 25, vanished from an area near Armidale on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 1993.

Mr Roach was last seen walking out of Armidale along the Grafton Road, in the afternoon or early evening of that day.

Strike Force Annan, comprising police from New England Local Area Command, was established in 2003 to examine the circumstances surrounding Mr Roach’s disappearance.

At the time, police received information about two people who may have been involved in his death.

Between last Tuesday (23 February 2016) and Friday (26 February 2016), officers from New England Local Area Command, Forensic Services Group, and the Dog Unit, executed a crime scene warrant at a property on the outskirts of Armidale.

The search, which involved excavation investigators, included a number of outdoor areas and buildings at the location.

Strike Force Annan is continuing its inquiries. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man injured after log truck rolls over on Hume Highway, Bowning

A truck driver managed to free himself after his log truck rolled over on the Hume Highway near Bowning on Monday, police say.

The semi-trailer rollover also caused about 600 litres of diesel to spill onto the road and forced the closure of one lane on the Hume Highway.

Police said the driver from Tumut “incredibly” freed himself from the truck and was taken to Canberra Hospital suffering severe injuries to his lower right leg.

A nurse travelling in the opposite direction pulled over to render assistance.

Fire and Rescue teams from Yass, Goulburn and Harden were called to the accident west of Yass about 11am.

Fire and Rescue deputy captain Scott Lang said he didn’t know how the accident happened but that about 600 litres of fuel had been spilled in the rollover.

“We are waiting on a specialist Hazmat appliance from Goulburn to come down and give us a hand to decant what is left [of the diesel] and do a vehicle recovery with the assistance of the contractors … so we will be here for some-time until we can … flip the truck back over, clean up what is left and hand it back to the Rural Fire Service,” Mr Lang said.

Traffic was slowed in the area but one lane of the highway remained open.

Police investigate shooting – Edgeworth

Police are investigating after a man was shot near Lake Macquarie this morning.

About 6.40am (Monday 29 February 2016), police and emergency services were called to Stratton Street, Edgeworth, following reports of a shooting.

On arrival, officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command located a 30-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his shoulder.

He was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

A crime scene has been established and will be examined by specialist forensic officers.

Lake Macquarie Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.