16 News

A man has been charged with drug and firearms offences, which arose from a vehicle stop in the Hunter region last night.
About 8pm (Wednesday 14 November 2018), officers from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North stopped a vehicle on Newcastle Road, New Lambton, and spoke with the 23-year-old female driver and a 23-year-old male passenger.
Officers removed the man from the vehicle and located a .22 calibre single-shot revolver in his waistband.
Following a subsequent search of the vehicle, police located and seized a homemade 12-gauge shotgun, 12-gauge cartridges, .22 calibre ammunition, and a shotgun barrel.
The pair was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station, where the man was served a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO).
During a subsequent FPO search of a New Lambton home, investigators seized further ammunition, and methylamphetamine, cannabis, suspected steroids, prescription medications, and cash.
The man was charged with 10 firearms offences, supply prohibited drug, and possess prohibited drug.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 15 November 2018).
The woman was released pending further inquiries.

New South Wales Police will retain policing operation duties when Newcastle Airport begins international operations later this month.
From Thursday 22 November 2018, Newcastle Airport Pty Ltd (NAPL) will introduce Virgin Australia flights between Australia and New Zealand three days a week.
The 13-week arrangement is due to continue until Sunday 17 February 2019.
The Port Stephens-Hunter Police District has been working closely with the airport, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) to prepare for the changes.
Despite the introduction of international flights, Port Stephens-Hunter Commander, Detective Superintendent Craig Jackson, said the responsibility for policing will remain with NSW Police.
“The airport’s classification has moved from category three to category two, but it’s not deemed a “designated” facility, so there’s no requirement for the Australian Federal Police to staff the airport,” Det. Supt Jackson said.
“However, the AFP has started training local NSW officers to deal with international crime detection and the prosecution of offences under state and federal legislation,” he added.
“There are new areas of policing for us to consider, relating to importation, immigration and aviation offences, as well as the airport’s own procedures.”

A man has been charged after police executed a search warrant and located hydroponic cannabis set-ups near Lake Macquarie.
At 8.30am on Wednesday 14 November 2018, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District executed a search warrant at a property on Kahibah Street, Swansea.
Police will allege they located hydroponic set-ups and seized cannabis plants from three rooms in the house.
A short time later, police attended a property on John Fisher Road at Belmont North where they seized cannabis plants before arresting a 37-year-old man and taking him to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with cultivate prohibited plant and granted conditional bail to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 28 November 2018.

A man will face court next year after a mobility scooter was used to tow a motorboat along the M1 Pacific Motorway.
On Friday 19 October 2018 police responded to reports of a mobility scooter being used to tow a 17-foot boat along the Pacific Highway at Belmont.
Police attached to the Lake Macquarie Highway Patrol made a number of inquiries in relation to the matter.
Yesterday (Tuesday 13 November 2018), a 35–year-old man was charged by way of a Future Court Attendance Notice for driving whilst disqualified, use unregistered vehicle on road, use uninsured vehicle on road, and use unregistered trailer on road.
The man is due to appear in Belmont Local Court on 9 January 2019.

Strike Force Raptor North have charged a man following a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) search in the state’s Hunter region today.
About 6.30am (Wednesday 14 November 2018), the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North served an FPO on a 56-year-old man, who is a member of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG), at a home in Kitchener.
During a subsequent FPO search of the home, investigators seized a semi-automatic pistol, a firearm barrel, and a quantity of methylamphetamine and cannabis.
Following inquiries, a 33-year-old man was arrested at the property and taken to Cessnock Police Station.
He was charged with possess unauthorised pistol, possess a barrel for a firearm unless authorised by licence, two counts of possess prohibited drug, and outstanding warrants.
The man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 15 November 2018).

A man has been arrested after a service station employee was allegedly threatened with a knife during an attempted robbery at Mayfield West this morning.
Officers from Newcastle City Police District were called to the service station on Maitland Road after a man entered the business and threatened the console operator about 12.20am (Wednesday 14 November 2018).
Police have been told the employee retreated to a back room after being threatened with a knife. The man initially left the store but returned when he saw the staff member return to the console. He again threatened the employee before leaving empty-handed.
Police patrolling were alerted and arrested a 30-year-old man in nearby Hanbury Street. A knife was seized and has been taken for forensic examination.
He has been taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with assault with intent to rob armed with offensive weapon, and custody of knife in public place.
The man, from Surry Hills, was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today.

A juvenile justice officer has been charged after a detainee was allegedly assaulted at a Central Coast facility.
On Monday (12 November 2018), officers from Brisbane Water Police District attended a juvenile justice centre at Kariong, after reports a 17-year-old detainee had been assaulted.
Police were notified after the teen suffered facial injuries when allegedly assaulted by an officer on Saturday (10 November 2018).
Following inquiries, investigators arrested a 54-year-old man at Tumbi Umbi today (Tuesday 13 November 2018).
He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear at Gosford Local Court on Tuesday 4 December 2018.

Police have released a CCTV image and are appealing for public assistance to help identify two men who might be able to assist with inquiries into an armed robbery on the Central Coast last month.
About 3:20am on Thursday 11 October 2018, two men armed with hammers, smashed through the entrance of a service station located on the corner of Bellevue Road and The Entrance Road, Forresters Beach.
Fearing for his safety a station attendant on duty locked himself in a rear office and called 000 for assistance.
Once inside the two men climbed over the front counter and stole cigarettes, and money from the till.
Officers from Brisbane Water Police District commenced inquiries and have released a CCTV image of one of the two men who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.
The man in the image is described as being approximately 160 -170 cm tall, wearing a black mask with white dots, black hooded jumper and long black pants/jeans.
The second man is described as being approximately 160 – 170 cm tall, wearing a black mask, and a hooded jumper (colour unknown).
The men fled on foot and were last seen on Bellevue Road.
Detectives from Gosford Police Station are undertaking the investigation and are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.