Rock throwers damage 18 cars in Hume Freeway crime spree

More than a dozen drivers have been pelted with rocks and chunks of concrete thrown from freeway bridges north of Melbourne.

The rock throwers have been targeting drivers on the Hume Freeway in central Victoria since January 9, when a dozen cars were significantly damaged while driving under bridges in Broadford and Wallan.

The vandals struck again this weekend.

Six cars were hit with rocks thrown from an overpass in Wandong in the early hours of Saturday, a police spokeswoman said.

“Police are investigating and are keen to speak to any witnesses or anyone that may have seen suspicious activity in the area,” she said.

The attacks occurred between 12.10am and 12.40am with rocks thrown from the Arkells Road overpass.

While no one was injured in the incidents, previous rock-throwing attacks in Melbourne have caused serious injury and police warn it could easily kill someone.

Man charged with alleged historical sexual assaults on children near Wagga Wagga

Police have charged a man with alleged historical sexual assaults of two girls in Ganmain, near Wagga Wagga.

Officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command have been investigating alleged historical sexual assaults of two girls who were aged five at the time.

The offences are alleged to have occurred at different times, between 1982 – 1983 and 1987 – 1988.

Following a complex investigation, at 9.50am today (Monday 18 January 2016), police attended a home in Ganmain and arrested a 52-year-old man.

He was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and charged with;

– Sexual intercourse with a child under 10 (x2)

– Sexual assault category 4 – indecent assault

– Carnal knowledge of a child under 10

– Sexual assault category 3 (x5); and,

– Sexual intercourse without consent.

The man was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 19 January 2016).

Man charged after allegedly shooting in the air – Muswellbrook

Police have charged a man after he allegedly threatened a couple with a firearm at Muswellbrook last month.

About 1.30am (Saturday 19 December 2015), two women aged 23 and 24, and two men, aged 22 and 24, were at a home on Wollombi Road, when two further men approached the house.

The 22-year-old man and 24-year-old woman, got into a car and one of the men spoke to them.

The man, who was known to them, allegedly threatened them with a firearm. The couple drove away and the man allegedly fired a shot into the air.

Officers from Hunter Valley Local Area Command were contacted and investigations commenced.

On Friday (15 January 2016), officers stopped a car in Muswellbrook and arrested the driver, a 26-year-old man.

He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with armed with intent to commit indictable offence, intimidate intend fear physical harm, possess unauthorised firearm and fire firearm in public place.

The man was refused bail and appeared at Muswellbrook Local Court on Saturday (16 January 2016), where he was formally refused bail to appear at Cessnock Local Court on Wednesday 20 January 2016.

Inquiries are continuing and Detectives are appealing for anyone who has information about the incident that have not yet spoken to police to contact Muswellbrook Police Station on 02 6542 6999 or Crime Stoppers.

Man extradited from WA to Sydney following alleged crime spree – Lake Macquarie

A man has been extradited from Perth and charged in Sydney following an alleged crime spree across NSW.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command commenced an investigation after reports of multiple offences being committed across NSW since August 2015. These included; break and enters, stealings, vehicle thefts and fraud offences.

Following a complex investigation, officers travelled to Perth, WA, and arrested a 22-year-old man.

He was extradited to Sydney and taken to Mascot Police Station.

The man was charged with breaching his bail and six outstanding non-conviction warrants.

He was refused bail and appeared at Parramatta Bail Court yesterday (Sunday 17 January 2016), where he was remanded.

City Recital Hall – VOYAGE TO THE MOON

22 & 23 February, 7pm & 27 February, 2pm

In Musica Viva and Victorian Opera’s brand new operatic work of love, loss and hope, 21st-century words are set to Baroque music to tell of a knight’s journey to the moon.

Theatre legend Michael Gow creates an exciting new chamber opera, Voyage to the Moon, with music realised by Calvin Bowman and the late Alan Curtis. This new work is a contemporary take on an old practice, combining gems from Handel and Vivaldi with rediscovered musical treasures.

Leading Australian singers Emma Matthews and Sally-Anne Russell share the stage with brilliant newcomer Jeremy Kleeman, along with a hand-picked band of leading chamber musicians led by Phoebe Briggs, head of music at Victorian Opera.

This semi-staged performance, with the cast in costume, combines old music, new words and beautiful singing to tell the magical story of a heroic knight’s journey to the moon.

In partnership with the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for the History of Emotions.

Man charged following police pursuit – Belmont South

A man has been charged after leading police on a pursuit in Belmont South overnight.

Shortly before 10pm (Saturday 16 January 2016), officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command received reports of a bronze-coloured Rolls-Royce driving dangerously from Catherine Hill Bay toward Belmont.

Police later intercepted the vehicle travelling north-bound on the Pacific Highway, near the Turea Street intersection.

The 58-year-old male driver allegedly failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

The vehicle came to stop at the Beach Street traffic control lights a short time later, at which point police surrounded the vehicle and directed the driver to exit the car.

The driver refused to comply, before allegedly reversing his vehicle into one of the police cars.

While being placed under arrest, it’s further alleged the man assaulted one of the officers and threatened them.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with police pursuit (Skye’s Law), intimidate police (two counts), resist police, assault police, use weapon (vehicle) to prevent lawful detection (two counts) and refuse to submit to breath analysis. His licence was also suspended.

The man has now been refused bail to appear before Newcastle Bail Court this morning (Sunday 17 January 2016).

Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind people they should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Police officer charged – Specialist Command

An off-duty police officer has been charged following an alleged incident at licensed premises in Tamworth overnight.

About 2.30am (Saturday 16 January 2016), a 44-year-old off-duty Senior Constable attached to a Specialist Command, allegedly refused to leave a hotel when asked by security staff.

The man was then given a direction to leave from police and again allegedly refused to leave.

An altercation allegedly took place and the man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Police Station.

A court attendance notice was issued for refuse to quit licensed premises, assault police and resist police.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Tamworth Local Court on Thursday 28 January 2016.

Man charged over drug supply – Morisset

A man has been charged over the alleged supply of drugs after a vehicle stop on the Central Coast.

About 3.30am today (Saturday 16 January 2016), police were patrolling Morisset when they sighted a Mitsubishi Triton drive at high speed on Alliance Avenue.

Police stopped the vehicle and spoke to the three occupants, including a female and two males.

As a result of the conversations, police formed suspicions, and searched the three.

During the search of the front seat passenger, a 46-year-old man, police allegedly located an amount of amphetamine, cannabis, a set of scales and resealable bags.

The man was arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with possess prohibited drug and supply prohibited drug.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 16 January 2016).

The other two occupants were not charged

Police operation tunes up for Tamworth's country-music festival

A police operation gets underway today to ensure Tamworth’s annual country music festival is a safe, fun and family-friendly event.

Operation Ashgrove will be in place for the duration of the Country Music Festival, Tamworth, which starts today (Friday 15 January 2016) and runs until Sunday 24 January 2016.

Now in its 44th year, this is the largest music festival in the Southern Hemisphere, with a program featuring 700 performers, 2800 shows and 120 venues.

Dozens of additional police have been deployed to work in the northern-NSW city during the festival.

“It is a hugely popular event, and we are expecting big crowds again this year,” Operation Ashgrove Commander, Superintendent Fred Trench, said.

“The atmosphere in Tamworth throughout festival is high-spirited, and while the vast majority of people are well-behaved, police will act swiftly if you choose to do the wrong thing,” he said.

In particular, police will be targeting alcohol-related criminal and anti-social behaviour.

“We encourage people to have a great time while they’re in Tamworth; we just ask that you look out for each other and know your limits in terms of alcohol consumption.

“Police will not tolerate alcohol-fuelled violence, and will be enforcing alcohol-free zones in the CBD.

“We’ll also have additional Traffic and Highway Patrol officers rostered on to conduct random alcohol and drug testing, so if you make a plan to drink, plan not to drive,” Supt Trench said.

Local Liquor Accord agreements will also remain in place for the duration of the festival – including a 12.30am lockout for all licensed venues; a ban on spirits shots; and no energy-drink mixers or high-alcohol pre-mixed drinks can be purchased after 10pm.

More than 50,000 people are expected to descend upon Tamworth for the festival, with many of them camping at sites around the city.

“Community safety is our number-one priority, and we urge festival-goers to take care of themselves and their belongings while visiting Tamworth for the festival,” Supt Trench said.

Police offer the following safety and security tips for campers:

• Plan your trip in advance and if possible, make a booking;
• Get to know your surrounding campers;
• In large crowds, be mindful of your own safety and security as well as that of people around you;
• Leave valuables at home – if you must take valuables with you, ensure they are secured and kept out of sight;
• Lock your caravan or campervan when unattended;
• Where possible, use a lock to secure your tent;
• Where possible, use a portable alarm in your tent or camper;
• Plan for changes in weather conditions;
• Ensure valuables are not left in unattended vehicles;
• Report any suspicious behaviour to police.

For comprehensive event details, visit the official festival website: www.tcmf.com.au

Special-event traffic information can be found at: www.livetraffic.com.

Appeal to locate missing Wallsend man

Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate a missing 42-year-old Wallsend man.

Gregory Rush works at Strathfield and resides at Belmore, in Sydney’s south-west, during the week. He returns to his mother’s address at Wallsend on weekends.

On Monday 11 January, Mr Rush didn’t arrive at work as scheduled and a check of his Belmore residence found no sign of him.

He had not been at this mother’s address either.

Police and Mr Rush’s family are concerned for his welfare as his disappearance is out of character.

He is described as 180cm tall, with a slim build, black curly hair and green eyes. He has tattoos of eagles on his upper back and upper right arm. .

Mr Rush’s car, a white Ford with NSW registration plates – UKR 765 – is yet to be located.