A critical incident investigation has been launched following a crash at Windale, near Lake Macquarie overnight.

About 12am (Sunday 28 February 2016), police from Lake Macquarie Traffic and Highway Patrol Command attempted to stop a blue Holden Commodore in Gateshead.

The Holden failed to stop and a short time later crashed into a power pole on Willandra Crescent, Windale and caught fire.

A male passenger was released from the car before the fire was extinguished.

The driver was trapped in the Holden for sometime before being released.

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

A critical incident team from Newcastle City Local Area Command will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident and will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command.

No further details are available at this time; however, police are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Anyone who can assist should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A woman has been charged after a police pursuit in the Hunter Valley during which a police vehicle was allegedly rammed.

About 4.40pm yesterday (Friday 26 February 2016), police were patrolling Leggetts Drive, Pelaw Main, when they detected a Hyundai Elantra with expired registration travelling north.

Police turned around and tried to pull the vehicle over, but it continued driving and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued through Kurri Kurri, before the vehicle turned into a bush track off Embelton Road. The vehicle came to a stop due to the road being blocked by logs.

Police attempted to open the driver’s door, at which time the driver allegedly reversed the vehicle into the front of the highway patrol car.

The 24-year-old female driver was then removed from the vehicle and arrested. When she was searched police allegedly located a small amount of cannabis in her pocket.

Inquiries also revealed she is disqualified from driving until 2017.

The woman was taken to Kurri Kurri Hospital where blood and urine sample were obtained.

She was then taken to Maitland Police Station where she was charged with drive while disqualified, drive unregistered/uninsured vehicle, drive under the influence of alcohol/drug, possess prohibited drug, drive at a speed/manner dangerous, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, exceed speed by over 45km/h and destroy or damage property.

She was granted conditional bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on 24 March 2016.

Inquiries are continuing after a truck crashed through a guard rail on the M1 near Morisset yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 24 February 24 2016).

About 3.30pm emergency services were called to the northbound lanes of the M1 near Bushell’s Ridge.

A B-double carrying a load of steel had left the road and went down an embankment.

Passing motorists came to the male driver’s aid.

A roadside breath test returned a negative result.

The man was assessed on site by NSW Ambulance Paramedics. It is understood he did not require hospitalisation.

Police believe the man had a medical episode at the time of the crash.

The truck was recovered from the crash site last night.

Toronto police have announced they will be moving to temporary premises while a new police station is built on the existing site.
The current police station has been operating out of the Carey Street premises for a considerable number of years and was badly in need of updating.

As of Monday 29 February 2016, Toronto police will be operating out of Boolaroo Police Station at 95 Main Road, Boolaroo, while the new premises at Toronto are constructed.

Acting Superintendent Darryn Cox welcomed the change, but wished to reassure the community that police resources in the area will not be affected by the move.

“Despite the move, members of the public should be reassured that Police will continue to serve the community of Toronto and surrounding areas.”

“Anyone who wants to report crime will be able to do so day or night with the Boolaroo police station open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Acting Superintendent Cox said.

Members of the public are also being informed that the phone number (02 4950 3699) for general inquiries to Toronto Police Station remains unchanged, with calls transferred to Boolaroo.
Meanwhile, anyone in need of urgent assistance should call emergency services via Triple Zero (000).

Police are investigating after firearms were stolen during a break-in at Rutherford, in the state’s Hunter Region.

Between 8.30pm on Sunday (21 February 2016) and 6.30am yesterday (Monday 22 February 2016), the garage of a property on Wollombi Road was broken into.

Two firearms – a .22 rifle and a .177 air rifle – were stolen from a locked safe, with .22 ammunition also taken from a separate safe.

Officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command are investigating and anyone with information about the missing firearms is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Police are advising residents in the Cessnock area that a telephone fault has meant they are currently unable to call their local police station.

The fault occurred approximately one hour ago and at this stage, it is believed the phone line will be operational about midday today (Sunday 21 February 2016).

In the meantime, anyone trying to report non life-threatening matters to officers at Cessnock Police Station should instead contact Maitland Police Station on (02) 4934 0200.

As always, anyone wanting to report a life-threatening matter should contact Triple Zero (000).

Telephone communications between police officers remains unaffected.

Police are conducting inquiries after two children were approached by a man near Newcastle.

On Thursday afternoon (18 February 2016), an 11-year-old boy and a 7-year-old girl were walking along Smith Street, Merewether, when they noticed a man following them.

The man followed the children for a number of minutes and, when they stopped at a property on Glebe Road, the man attempted to engage them in conversation.

When the children ignored the man, he left the location.

The matter was reported to police and officers from the Newcastle Local Area Command have now commenced inquiries into the matter.

The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, around 40 years of age, between 170 and 180cm tall and of thin build. He was wearing a colourful trucker hat, a light blue shirt, white/grey shorts and white joggers.

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 are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman wanted by virtue of arrest warrants in the Newcastle area.

Jaquara Morgan, aged 33, is wanted in relation to two outstanding warrants for stealing offences.

She is described as being Aboriginal / Torres Strait Islander in appearance, 160 to 170cm tall, with dark hair and a large build.

She is known to frequent the Hamilton, Islington and Elermore Vale areas.

Anyone who sees Jaquara Morgan is advised not to approach her but to contact Newcastle City police (02) 4929 0999 or Waratah police (02) 4926 6599 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A man has been charged with a range of offences after allegedly leading police on several pursuits in the Newcastle area this month.

About 3.15pm on Monday 1 February 2016, Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were conducting speed enforcement duties in a school zone on Hillsborough Road, Charlestown, when they noticed a white Toyota Yaris allegedly exceeding the speed limit.

Police attempted to stop the vehicle, when it’s alleged the driver drove away.

A pursuit was initiated; however, it was terminated a short time later when police lost sight of the vehicle.

About 11.30pm on Monday 8 February 2016, officers stopped a black Holden Commodore on University Drive, Jesmond.

As they were speaking to the driver and passenger, the car allegedly drove away on the wrong side of the road, causing police to initiate a pursuit.

The vehicle was seen on Newcastle Link Road, Wallsend and was pursued through several suburbs including Cameron Park and Edgeworth. It was terminated due to safety concerns.

About 11.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 17 February 2016), police were patrolling the Newcastle Link Road at Wallsend, when they sighted a black Holden Commodore and initiated a pursuit.

Officers approached the vehicle which was parked on Chiplin Street, New Lambton, and attempted to arrest a 24-year-old man who was disqualified from driving until 2051.

It’s alleged he resisted arrest, necessitating the deployment of OC spray.

The man was removed from the vehicle and officers conducted a search of the car.

During the search, police allegedly located and seized a quantity of amphetamine and several weapons including a knife and machete.

The 24-year-old was taken to Newcastle Police Station where a revocation of parole warrant was executed, and he was charged with a number of offences, including:

– Disqualified driving (x4);

– Driving in manner dangerous to the public;

– Exceed 30km/h in a school zone;

– Police pursuit – drive dangerously (Skye’s law) (x2);

– Display misleading number plate (x2);

– Resist arrest;

– Possess prohibited drug; and,

– Possession of a knife in a public place.

He has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Thursday 18 February 2016).

A woman who allegedly harboured an escapee who fled a Glen Innes correctional centre last year has been arrested and charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives.

Two prisoners escaped from the minimum security facility on Tuesday 27 October 2015 with one of the men detained by a correctional officer the following day.

Detectives from State Crime Command’s Robbery and Serious Crime Squad and Mid North Coast Local Area Command established Strike Force Mirool to investigate the activities of the second man, now 34, who was arrested in Newcastle last month (Thursday 14 January 2016).

Following further inquiries, detectives arrested a 33-year-old woman on Monday 15 February 2016.

Police will allege the woman harboured the escapee at her Raymond Terrace Home for a period of up to six weeks prior to his arrest.

She was charged with harbouring an escapee and has been granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 10 March 2016.