Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command have charged a number of men following investigations into illegal firearm and drug activity in the Lake Macquarie, Newcastle and Port Stephens areas.

Strike Force Barsdell commenced in January, and culminated in the arrest of five men for offences ranging from firearm possession and supply, to supply a commercial quantity of prohibited drugs.

A total of five search warrants were executed, commencing on 16 January, 2015 where a search of a North Belmont premises allegedly uncovered a firearm and a quantity of drugs.

A 33-year-old man was arrested and charged with possess firearm and drug possession. He will appear in Belmont Local Court in 6 May 2015.

Another warrant was executed on Monday 27 April, 2015 at a Boolaroo premises, where police allegedly located cash, a vehicle, and a quantity of amphetamine.

A 30-year-old man was arrested and charged with ongoing supply of firearms and ongoing supply of prohibited drug. He was refused bail and will appear at Belmont Local Court on 10 June, 2015.

A third warrant was executed on 27 April, 2015, at a premises in Broadmeadow. Police allegedly located a quantity of amphetamine, ammunition and other property. A-24-year-old man was arrested and charged with supply firearm, possess firearm, possess ammunition, custody of a knife, and drive while suspended.

He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on 6 May, 2015.

The fourth and fifth warrants were executed on Tuesday 28 April, 2015, at a residential and a business premises in Hamilton. At these locations police seized a quantity of cannabis, cash and a Taser. A 71-year-old man was arrested and charged with supply commercial quantity of drug and supply indictable quantity of drug.

The man was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court on 6 May, 2015.

On Wednesday 29 April, 2015 investigators also searched a property at Salt Ash and seized a further two firearms linked to this investigation.

Lake Macquarie Commander, Superintendent Brett Greentree, said local police officers were committed to reducing drug supply in the area.

“We are extremely pleased with this result. Arresting and charging those who engage in the supply of illicit drugs and firearms is a primary priority for our local area command and our investigations into these criminal enterprises will continue,” Supt Greentree said.

“In total, we seized 195 grams of amphetamine, 10kg of cannabis, over $250,000 in cash, seven firearms and a Taser. This is a very pleasing result.”

Police from Newcastle City Local Area Command have conducted a targeted operation following a recent increase in break-and-enter offences in the Stockton area.

The operation was carried out overnight (Tuesday 28 April to Wednesday 29 April 2015) by officers from the Waratah Special Operations Group.

About 1.30am (Wednesday 29 April 2015), officers deployed as part of the operation saw a man hiding behind a car in the front yard of a house in Maitland Street, Stockton.

During a search of the man, police seized housebreaking implements.

The 28-year-old man was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station, where he was charged with:

– Dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception (four counts);
– Possess housebreaking implements;
– Deal with property suspected proceeds of crime; and
– Being carried in a conveyance without consent.

The man appeared in Newcastle Local Court this morning, where he was remanded in custody to appear in the same court on 4 May 2015.

It will be alleged the man broke into a home on William Street, Stockton, some time between 9.30pm on 26 April 2015 and 6.30am the following day.

Police will further allege the man stole a car from the premises, and used a stolen credit card to obtain goods and cash at Newcastle West and Kotara.

Later this morning, a 21-year-old man presented at Waratah Police Station.

He was also charged in relation to the incident at William Street, Stockton.

This man was refused bail, and is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 30 April 2015) to answer four counts of dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception.

A third man, aged 31, was arrested as part of this targeted operation. He appeared in Newcastle Local Court today charged in relation to an outstanding warrant.

A teenager has been charged following an aggravated attempted armed robbery of a convenience store in Cardiff on the weekend.

Just after midnight on Sunday 26 April 2015, a male armed with a knife entered a convenience store on the corner of Gertrude and Helen Streets.

It will be alleged the male threatened a staff member, when the employee suffered a deep cut to his hand.

The armed male fled the scene empty handed. The staff member was treated at the scene by Ambulance Paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital.

Police were called and commenced investigating the incident.

Following inquiries, yesterday (Tuesday 28 April 2015), officers attached to the Lake Macquarie Special Operations Group attended a home on Mary Street, Cardiff, where a 16-year-old boy was arrested.

A number of items were seized from the home for forensic examination, including an electronic device and clothing.

The teenager was taken to Charlestown Police Station, where he was charged with aggravated robbery and an unrelated outstanding warrant.

He has been refused bail, to appear at court today (Wednesday 29 April 2015).

A man is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court today charged with assaulting police, possession of a prohibited drug, and other offences.

Police attached to the Waratah Special Operations Group were patrolling on Darling Street, Hamilton South, about 11.50pm yesterday (Monday 27 April 2015).

Officers stopped and questioned a man who was riding a bicycle while not wearing a helmet.

Police will allege they could smell cannabis on the man, and when asked about it, he handed over a quantity of the drug.

The man also provided his particulars. While police were conducting checks, he allegedly rode off on the bicycle.

Officers pursued the man on foot, catching up with him in a nearby car park.

While police were arresting the man, he allegedly kicked and lashed out at officers.

During a subsequent search of the man, police seized an additional amount of cannabis; breaking implements; and items allegedly stolen from a motor vehicle at Cooks Hill on 21 April 2015.

Police took the 28-year-old man to Newcastle Police Station, where he was charged with assault police; resist police; possess prohibited drug; possess breaking implements; and outstanding warrants.

He was refused bail, and is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 28 April 2015).

A man is due to appear in court charged with drug and firearms offences after a vehicle stop near Cessnock.

About 5.30pm last Friday (24 April 2015), police from Central Hunter Local Area Command were patrolling Lomas Lane, Nulkaba, in relation to a driving complaint about a green Holden Commodore.

A vehicle matching that description was seen minutes later and police directed the driver to stop. They will allege the driver instead accelerated, and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued only for a short time before the alleged driver stopped the car and ran from the scene. He was chased on foot for about 300m before being arrested.

When the car was searched, police seized a shortened .22 calibre firearm with a scope and torch attached, ammunition, bags containing a crystal substance police allege to be methamphetamine (Ice), and an amount of cash.

The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with:

• Possess unauthorised firearm;

• Supply prohibited drug;

• Police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly (Skye’s Law);

• Goods in personal custody suspected being stolen;

• Drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.

The man was refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Monday 27 April 2015).

A man is under police guard in hospital after allegedly stealing and crashing a police vehicle near Maitland.

Just before 10.30am today (Sunday 26 April 2015), an off-duty police officer witnessed an alleged domestic incident on South Seas Drive at Ashtonfield.

It’s alleged a woman suffered a laceration to her hand during the incident.

Police were contacted and officers from Central Hunter Local Area Command attended and arrested the woman’s partner.

The man was handcuffed and placed in the rear of a police car while details were taken from the alleged victim.

The 32-year-old man got into the driver’s seat of the police vehicle before driving off while handcuffed.

A short time later he crashed the police vehicle into two parked cars and a car port.

All three cars involved were extensively damaged, while the car port sustained minor damage.
The man wasn’t injured in the crash and was taken to Maitland Police Station before being taken to hospital for observation.

He remains under police guard and is expected to be charged with multiple offences when he is released from hospital. He will be bail refused to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Monday 27 April 2015).