Daily Archives: 25/03/2015

Man charged with obscene exposure near Newcastle

A man has been charged with obscene exposure after an incident near Newcastle yesterday.

About 8am (Tuesday 24 March 2015) police were called to Morgan Street, Merewether after a man allegedly pulled down his pants and acted indecently. The incident occurred near a bus stop where a high school girl, in uniform, was waiting for her bus.

A witness contacted police who attended and arrested a man.

The 34-year-old was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with wilful and obscene exposure in/near public place/school.

He was granted conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 23 April 2015.

Inquiries are continuing.

Police appeal to locate missing man – Maitland, Kurri Kurri, Weston

Police will address the media as they continue their search for an 86-year-old man missing from the Maitland area.

Herbert “Nobby” Bartlett was last seen about 9.10am on Monday (23 March 2015) at Maitland Hospital, where he has been receiving care after a stroke six weeks ago.

It is believed Mr Bartlett has left the hospital, and could possibly be in the Maitland, Kurri Kurri or Weston areas.

Police and Mr Bartlett’s family are concerned about his welfare, as he requires medication and is frail. He may also be disorientated as a result of his stroke.

Mr Bartlett is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 155-160cm tall, and with white/grey short hair. He was last seen wearing glasses, a blue-coloured pyjama top with fine white stripes, ash/cream-coloured shorts and ash/cream-coloured shoes.

Police encourage anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mr Bartlett to come forward, and will address media today in an effort to help locate him.

Police investigate serious crash near Yass

Police are appealing for witnesses following a serious crash near Yass yesterday morning.

About 9.15am (Tuesday 24 March 2015), an 18-year-old man was driving a BMW sedan south along the Hume Highway in Murrumbateman, about 20km south east of Yass.

It’s believed the man lost control of the vehicle near the intersection of Valencia Drive, and the vehicle left the road, hitting a tree. He sustained multiple injuries.

Emergency services were called and the man was treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics, before being taken to Canberra Hospital in a critical condition.

Officers attached to The Hume Local Area Command are investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash and are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Man charged over attempted armed robbery – Wagga Wagga

Police have charged a man following an alleged attempted armed robbery in Wagga Wagga yesterday.

About 12.30pm (Tuesday 24 March 2015), a 66-year-old woman was working at the counter of a newsagency on Bourke Street, Tolland, when a man entered the shop.

He allegedly threatened the woman with a knife, demanding cash.

A 37-year-old man who was working out the back heard what was happening and came into the shop. The other man then ran off empty-handed.

The man and woman from the shop followed and saw him enter a car on Joyes Place before it drove away.

Police were contacted and officers from Wagga Wagga Local Area Command attended, commencing an investigation.

No-one was injured during the incident.

Inquiries led police to attend a home on Condon Avenue, Mount Austin.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the location and a number of items were seized, including a knife.

The man was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and was charged with attempted armed robbery whilst armed with offensive weapon and an outstanding warrant for unrelated matters.

He was refused bail to appear at Wagga Wagga Local Court today (Wednesday 25 March 2015).

Police appeal to locate missing man – Maitland, Kurri Kurri, Weston

Police are appealing to the public to help locate an 86-year-old man missing from the Maitland area.

Herbert “Nobby” Bartlett was last seen about 9.10am yesterday (Monday 23 March 2015) at Maitland Hospital, where he has been receiving care after a stroke six weeks ago.

It is believed Mr Bartlett has left the hospital, and could possibly be in the Maitland, Kurri Kurri or Weston areas.

Police and Mr Bartlett’s family are concerned about his welfare, as he requires medication.

Mr Bartlett is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 155-160cm tall, and with white/grey short hair. He was last seen wearing glasses, a blue-coloured pyjama top with fine white stripes, ash/cream-coloured shorts and ash/cream-coloured shoes.

Police encourage anyone with information about the whereabouts of Mr Bartlett to come forward.

Man charged after child dies in crash – Williamtown

Police have charged a man after a seven-year-old boy died in a car crash at Williamtown in the state’s Hunter region earlier this year.
About 4.10pm on Wednesday 21 January 2015, a Nissan Pathfinder was travelling south along Medowie Road.

As the vehicle approached banked-up traffic near the intersection of Nelson Bay Road, it drove along a grass section of road to the left of the waiting traffic.

The 4WD became airborne near a gully and impacted heavily on the opposite side.

A seven-year-old boy seated in the rear of the car sustained serious internal injuries and was transported to John Hunter Hospital; however, he later died.

Three other children travelling in the car were also taken to hospital for minor injuries, before being released.

The driver, a 35-year-old man, was subjected to mandatory blood and urine testing.

Following inquiries by the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit, a 35-year-old man attended Liverpool Police Station about 10.30am today (Tuesday 24 March 2015). He has been charged with:

– Dangerous driving occasioning death – drive under influence;

– Aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death – influence drug or drugs;

– Dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous; and

– Drive vehicle – illicit drug present in blood, etc.

The man has been granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday 25 May 2015.

Man charged and firearms seized from Windale home

Police have charged a man and seized four firearms from a property in Windale, Lake Macquarie, following an alleged domestic dispute.

About 7pm yesterday (Monday 23 March 2015), officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command were called to a house on James Street in relation to an alleged domestic incident between a man and woman.

Following inquiries, police seized four rifles from the home and a large amount of ammunition.

One of the rifles had a suppressor (silencer) attached to the barrel.

A 37-year-old man was arrested at the home and taken to Charlestown Police Station, where he was charged with intimidation and possess prohibited weapon.

He was also issued with a suspension notice for his firearms licence.

The man has been granted conditional bail and is due to appear before Belmont Local Court on Monday 30 March 2015.

Boys from Bourke take a sea change with Lake Macquarie Police

A new police program will bring a group of boys from the bush to meet boys from the lakes next week as part of an innovative educational exchange program.

The ‘Tunbilliko’ Program, which is Aboriginal for ‘exchange’, is a joint-initiative between Lake Macquarie and Darling River Local Area Commands that will provide an opportunity for Indigenous teens and local police to develop strong relationships between the north and the west.

The inaugural Tunbilliko trip will see five Indigenous teenage boys from Bourke arrive at Lake Macquarie today (Tuesday 24 March 2014), and team up with five local Indigenous teenage boys to share experiences from different aspects of Aboriginal culture and learn about life on the coast.

Over the next four days, the boys will visit the Wollotuka Institute at the University of Newcastle, the Aboriginal Learning Circle at Hunter TAFE, and local police facilities, including Police Rescue, PCYC and Marine Area Command.

In addition, the boys will have the opportunity to go sailing, kayaking, and fishing, learn about local bush tucker, spend time at the beach and attend a Newcastle Knights home game.

Later in the year, the boys from the coast will head to the bush and meet up with their friends in Bourke.

Lake Macquarie Local Area Commander, Superintendent Brett Greentree, said the program aimed to create new friendships amongst the boys and further grow relationships between police and the community.

“We are excited to be involved in the Tunbilliko Program and pleased the local Aboriginal community has embraced the idea and helped bring it to life,” Supt Greentree said.

“While both areas are beautiful, Lake Macquarie is a stark contrast to Bourke, and this is a great opportunity to impart knowledge and better understand the differences in our ways of life.

“There are a range of activities planned over the next four days, ranging from relaxing to intense and educational to just plain fun, which we hope everyone will enjoy.

“At the end of the program, the boys will be awarded a certificate from TAFE NSW recognising the skills learnt during their stay,” Supt Greentree said.

Funded by the Aboriginal Strategic Direction Crime Prevention Grants, the program has strong community support, including the Community Consultative Committee and Belmont Rotary Club.