Police release CCTV following attempted newsagency robbery – Central Hunter

Police are releasing CCTV footage following investigations into an attempted armed robbery at a newsagency in Thornton last month.

About 4pm on Tuesday 17 November an employee was working behind the counter of a newsagency on Railway Avenue when a man entered the store armed with a knife.

Upon seeing the weapon the 57-year-old employee grabbed a baseball bat that was behind the counter and challenged the armed man.

The man holding the knife ran from the store empty handed and was seen getting into a silver dual or single cab utility that was parked nearby.

The man has been described as Caucasian in appearance and wearing a navy hoodie and beige shorts with silver and black sneakers and a white bandanna.

Anyone with information about this attempted robbery is asked to call Maitland Detectives or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police release CCTV images following stealing and subsequent frauds – Newcastle

Police have released images of two men who may be able to assist with inquires following a stealing from a truck and subsequent frauds in the Newcastle area yesterday.

Between 8am and 8.20am (Monday 14 December 2015), unknown persons broke into a white Isuzu table-top truck on Brooks Street, Cooks Hill, and stole a wallet containing credit cards.

The credit cards were then allegedly used in fraud and attempted frauds at a number of stores in Newcastle and surrounding suburbs throughout the morning (Monday 14 December 2015).

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command are investigating the incidents and have released CCTV images of three men who men be able to assist with inquiries.

The first is described as being Caucasian in appearance, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, with a large build, wearing a grey baseball cap, blue vest with yellow zipper, dark shorts and white joggers.

The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his early 20s, with a skinny build, wearing a black baseball cap with grey peak, red shoes and beige shorts. He has tattoos on his left neck, left forearm, and a tattoo of the Southern Cross on his right forearm.

A third man, not shown in the images, is described as having a skinny build, wearing a white shirt, beige shorts and a dark baseball cap.

Police are urging anyone who knows the identity or whereabouts of the men, or who has information about the incidents, to call Newcastle Police on (02) 4926 6599 or via Crimestoppers.

Police charge man after paramedic assaulted – Newcastle

Police have charged a man after an Ambulance Paramedic was assaulted in Newcastle overnight.

During the evening of Monday 14 December 2015 a 48-year-old man was conveyed by Ambulance Paramedics from Maryville to the Mater Hospital at Waratah.

Shortly after 9pm the man was in the triage area awaiting treatment when he attempted to get off the trolley and it became unstable.

A 41-year-old male Ambulance Paramedic attempted to steady the trolley and was punched in the face twice.

The man was restrained and the Paramedic was treated for minor injuries.

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command attended and arrested the 48-year-old man who was conveyed to Waratah Police Station.

He was subsequently charged with assault and granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 21 January 2016

Man charged after assault at licensed venue – Newcastle

A man will appear in court next month charged over the alleged assault of a man in Newcastle at the weekend.

Just after 12am (Saturday 12 December 2015), a 27-year-old man was approached by a security guard at a licensed venue in Hamilton, Newcastle, and asked to leave the premises.

Police will allege a short altercation occurred between the two men, when a second security guard, a 40-year-old man, approached the 27-year-old and punched and kicked him in the head.

The 27-year-old attended the Mater Hospital for treatment for facial injuries including a broken nose.

Officers from Newcastle City Local Area Command were notified and commenced investigations.

Following inquiries, about 4.30pm yesterday (Sunday 13 December 2015), a 40-year-old man attended Newcastle Police Station.

He was subsequently charged with common assault (x4) and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on 21 January 2016.

Two men charged after shots fired during pursuit near Yass

Two men arrested at Yass following a police pursuit early yesterday have been charged.

Police were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2am (Sunday 13 December 2015), following reports of a break and enter on a business.

Two men driving a utility were pursued from Gundagai to Yass, during which police will allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3.40am, those men stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police allege the men forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Two ACT men, both aged 23, were arrested at the service centre and taken to Yass Police Station.

They have each been charged with numerous offences, including shoot with intent to murder, aggravated break and enter, assault and resist arrest.

Both have been refused bail to appear before Goulburn Local Court today (Monday 14 December 2015).

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

Police appeal for witnesses after pedestrian injured in crash – Central Hunter

Police have appealed to the public for assistance after a pedestrian was injured in a collision at Pokolbin over the weekend.

About 11.20pm on Saturday 12 December 2015, a 19-year-old woman was driving west on Broke Road.

When she was approximately one kilometre east of Hope Estate the nearside of her Mazda collided with a 49-year-old man, who was walking along Broke Road.

Police have been told that the man appeared to be crossing the road when he was struck.

The man received head, back and internal injuries from the collision and after being treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

The driver, who stopped, was taken by police to Cessnock Hospital for mandatory testing.

Police from Central Hunter Local Area Command continue with their investigations into the collision and have appealed for anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward.

Goulburn fire units respond quickly

FIRE crews extinguished a small grass blaze on Goulburn’s eastern outskirts on Saturday afternoon.

NSW Fire and Rescue was called to the fire on a no through road, off Bungonia Rd at 3.15pm.

There were unconfirmed residents’ reports a property owner had been using a slasher just before the outbreak. Smoke plumes could be seen from the Hume Highway but the blaze only burnt through about two acres.

Two town brigades were joined by five RFS crews – two from Bungonia and three Support units.

NSW Fire and Recue retained firefighter Chris Grady said while the wind was reasonably light at the time, the greater concern was that it could have jumped the road into longer grass. However they extinguished the fire within 30 minutes.

While a total fire ban was not in place in the fire region on Saturday, people are reminded to be eternally vigilant with the use of machinery, given the dry conditions.

The outbreak comes three weeks after a 60 hectares tore through land off the Goulburn Bypass in gusting conditions. It was sparked after a vehicle lost its trailer wheel on the Hume Highway.

Also on Saturday afternoon, at 4pm, the RFS was called to a grass fire at Bullspit Rd, Brayton. Marulan brigades are attending and are expected to be joined by others. At the time of writing, the fire had been contained.

Shots fired by men during police pursuit from Gundagai to Yass, police say

Shots were fired during a lengthy police pursuit from Gundagai to Yass in southern New South Wales, police say.

Police said they were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2:00am today after reports of a break and enter at a business.

Two men driving a ute were pursued from Gundagai to Yass for close to two hours, during which officers allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3:40am, the men, both aged 23 from the ACT, stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police said they forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Both men were arrested at the service station and were taken to Yass Police Station.

Police said at least one firearm was seized for forensic examination.

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

Four charged following assault at service station – Belmont North

A man and three teenagers have been charged following an alleged assault at a service station in Belmont early this morning.

About 12.45am (Sunday 13 December 2015), emergency services were called to the service station on the Pacific Highway, following reports of an assault.

Police will allege that two men, aged 20 and 18, were walking past the service station, when two males and a female, exited a van and assaulted them, before fleeing.

Following the assault, the 20-year-old man was treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.

A crime scene was established by officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, and an investigation commenced.

A short time later, officers attended a home on Dwyer Chase, Eleebana, and arrested a 19-year-old man, a 17-year-old boy, and a 17-year-old girl.

The trio were taken to Belmont Police Station and were each charged affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The 19-year-old man was refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Monday 14 December 2015).

The 17-year-old boy was granted conditional bail to appear at Children’s Court on Monday 21 December 2015. The 17-year-old girl was granted conditional bail to appear at Children’s Court on Monday 4 January 2016.

About 12.30pm (Sunday 13 December 2015), a 17-year-old boy attended Belmont Police Station where he was arrested.

He was later charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and affray. He was granted conditional bail to appear at a Children’s Court on Monday 18 January 2016.

Critical incident investigation after shots fired during pursuit, arrest at Yass

A critical incident investigation has been launched after shots were allegedly fired during a police pursuit and arrest at Yass this morning.

Police were called to the Hume Highway at Gundagai about 2am (Sunday 13 December 2015), following reports of a break and enter on a business.

Two men driving a utility were pursued from Gundagai to Yass, during which police will allege a number of shots were fired by the men.

About 3.40am, those men stopped at a service centre at Yass, where police allege the men forced the driver of a Ford Falcon out of his vehicle at gunpoint.

Two men, both aged 23 from the ACT, were arrested at the service centre and have been taken to Yass Police Station. At least one firearm has been seized for forensic examination.

An independent critical incident team from Monaro Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm during the arrests.

That investigation will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.