A man is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court today charged with murder.
Detectives attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command established Strike Force Retractor to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a 28-year-old Christopher Daunt.

The Newcastle man disappeared in April 2015.

Investigators executed a search warrant yesterday (Thursday 16 June 2016) at a home on Elaine Street, Rankin Park.

A number of items were seized and will undergo forensic examination.

Police arrested a 33-year-old man at the premises and he was taken to Belmont Police Station.

The man was later charged with murder.

He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 17 June 2016).

Investigators continue with their inquiries and will today further examine human remains located at Seahampton.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the stabbing of man in Lake Macquarie yesterday.

About 1.30pm (Thursday 16 June 2016), emergency services were called to a home on Oxford Street, Gateshead following reports a man had been stabbed.

A 25-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance Paramedics at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital with several lacerations to his arms and legs, and a severed finger.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have commenced and investigation and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact Belmont Police Station on 02 4922 8799

A man has been charged in relation to an alleged assault which occurred at Belmont North last month.

Just before 9.30am on Sunday 15 May 2016, police and emergency services attended Green Street following reports a 26-year-old man was unconscious with head injuries.

The man was taken by NSW Ambulance Paramedics to John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command established a crime scene and commenced investigations into the incident.

On Tuesday (14 June 2016), a 23-year-old man was arrested on unrelated matters.

Following further inquiries, he was charged with wound person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He was also charged common assault (DV) and intimidation for an alleged separate incident.

The man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 15 June 2016).

Police have charged a man with several offences after he drove a vehicle with only three tyres along the M1 Freeway on the Central Coast overnight.

About 10pm on Sunday 12 June 2016 police were alerted to a white Mitsubishi Magna travelling in the north bound lanes of the M1 Freeway.

The vehicle was observed to have a flat rear, nearside tyre and was travelling on the rim.

Officers stopped the vehicle three kilometres north of the Morisset exit as the driver attempted to continue north at approximately 100km/h.

As the vehicle stopped, the male driver fled on foot, into scrub on the median strip.

Following a short foot pursuit he was arrested.

The man was subjected to a roadside breath test which he failed, and was then conveyed to Belmont Police Station.

Police will allege that the man failed to provide an adequate sample during a breath analysis.

The 31-year-old man was subsequently charged with driving in a manner dangerous, drive whilst disqualified, resist arrest, fail to undertake a breath analysis and four outstanding warrants.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Bail Court today.

Several people have sustained burns – two seriously – after a fire at a correctional centre in the Hunter region overnight.

About 8.20pm (Thursday 9 June 2016), emergency services were called to a correctional facility at Cessnock, responding to reports of a fire within a cell.

Two male inmates – aged 21 and 24 – received serious burns and were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics. The men were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Twelve Corrective Services officers were treated at various hospitals within the Hunter region for smoke inhalation; two were also being treated for burns.

A number of prisoners were assessed at the scene by NSW Ambulance Paramedics for also for smoke inhalation.

Detectives from the Central Hunter Local Area Command are investigating.

A man has been charged after illicit drugs were allegedly seized during a vehicle stop in Newcastle overnight.

About 11.40pm (Wednesday 8 June 2016), police from Newcastle City Local Area Command stopped a vehicle at a service station on Maitland Road, Islington.

Police spoke with the driver, a 19-year-old woman, and her passenger, a 25-year-old man, before searching them and the vehicle.

During the search police allegedly located a quantity of illicit drugs believed to be cocaine, methyl amphetamine (‘Ice’) and speed and cash in the man’s possession.

The items were seized for further forensic analysis.

The man was arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug (x2), possess prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime.

He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 9 June 2016).

The woman is to be issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for drive while disqualified and will attend court at a later date.

Police are investigating two armed robberies in the Port Stephens and Central Hunter regions yesterday.

About 9.20pm (Tuesday 7 June 2016), two men entered a service station on the Pacific Highway at Heatherbrae. One man threatened the female attendant with a syringe and demanded cash, to which she complied.

The men left the service station and were last seen running towards the Pacific Highway.

About an hour later at 10.25pm (Tuesday 7 June 2016), two men entered a service station on the New England Highway at Maitland. One man kept watch at the door while the other threatened the male attendant with a syringe. The man demanded cash and cigarettes to which the attendant complied.

Both men then ran from the scene.

Police believe the incidents are connected and would like to speak with two men who may be able to assist with inquiries.

One man is described as being Caucasian, aged 16 to 22, about 173cm tall with a thin build and short brown hair. He was last seen wearing a hooded jumper with dark sleeves and a red and yellow “Superman” logo, dark pants and black and white “Nike” joggers. He was also carrying a light-blue soft fabric bag.

The other man is described as being Caucasian, aged 16 to 22 with a thin build. He was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, black tracksuit pants and dark grey and yellow joggers and his face was covered by a scarf.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Two women are expected to appear in court today charged with drug and fraud offences following a pursuit with police in Lake Macquarie yesterday.

About 11am (Monday 6 June 2016), police attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were patrolling Lookout Road, New Lambton, when they noticed an Elantra sedan wanted by police.

Police became involved in a short pursuit; however lost sight of the vehicle.

Just before 3pm, police noticed two females. matching the description of the occupants of the car they pursued earlier, walking along Ocean Parade.

Both females were arrested after a short foot pursuit and taken to Waratah Police Station.

The 24-year-old woman was charged with police pursuit not stop, three counts of obtain benefit by deception, drive motor vehicle whilst disqualified and possess prohibited drug.

The second woman, aged 28, was charged with three counts of obtain benefit by deception and goods in custody.

They were both refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 7 June 2016).

Police have charged a man with multiple offences after a siege at a home in Lake Macquarie overnight.

Officers from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were called to a home in Vena Street at Glendale

yesterday afternoon (Monday 6 June 2016) after an armed man was reported to be threatening self-harm.

Police established a perimeter around the home and commenced negotiations with the man.

After a period of negotiation the man was arrested without incident and a firearm was secured.

The 19-year-old man was conveyed to Belmont Police Station where after a medical examination he was taken to hospital for an assessment.

The man was subsequently charged with a number of offences including use offensive weapon to avoid apprehension, possess unauthorised pistol, possess prohibited drug, possess loaded firearm endanger life and an outstanding warrant.

The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.

Police are appealing for information to locate a man wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

Tafari Walton, aged 18, is wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for a revocation of parole.

Police continue to make inquiries and are appealing for assistance from the community to locate him.

Tafari Walton is described as being of Pacific Islander/Maori appearance, about 150cm to 160cm tall, of thin build and with dark hair.

He is known to frequent the Bar Beach, Newcastle, Glendale, Cardiff and Lake Macquarie areas.

Anyone who sees Tafari Walton or knows his whereabouts is urged not to approach him, but instead contact police immediately on Triple Zero (000).