Lake Macquarie Local Area Command

Renewed appeal to find missing Cardiff man

Lake Macquarie Detectives are again appealing for public information to locate a man who has been missing for two months.

Jay Riley, 27, was last seen at his home in Crockett Street, Cardiff on Monday 14 December about 6.30pm when he went to the shops.

Neither Jay or his blue 1991 Toyota Lexcen with NSW registration number AM 83 ST – have been seen since that day, despite extensive searches by local police and his family.

Jay is described as being of white/European appearance, between 174cm to 179cm tall, and of a medium build. He has short black hair and blue eyes.

Jay’s family and friends have told police they are concerned for him and that his disappearance is out of character.

Jay has medical conditions that require treatment and medication; there are real concerns for his welfare.

Anyone with information on Jay’s whereabouts is urged to contact Lake Macquarie Detectives on (02) 4942 9999, or via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

All information will be treated in strict confidence.

Eastern Beaches Local Area Command

Partygoers warned against anti-social behaviour at Good Vibrations Festival – Centennial Park

Police are urging party goers attending this weekend’s Good Vibrations Music Festival to obey the law and enjoy the day safely.

A high-visibility Police operation will be in place at the music festival, targeting:

• Anti-social behaviour,
• Alcohol-related crime,
• Illegal drug use and supply.

CCTV coverage will also be used to enhance the safety of people attending the festival.

The operation will take place in and around the venue involving:

• Police from Eastern Beaches Local Area Command,
• Drug Detection unit,
• Licensing Police,
• Mounted Police unit,
• Police Trail Bike units.

The Good Vibrations Festival will be held between 12pm and 10pm within the Centennial Parklands this Saturday (13 February). Event organisers are expecting thousands of music-lovers to attend.

The NSW Police event commander, Superintendent Allan Sicard, said all festival goers needed to know anti-social and criminal behaviour would not be tolerated on the day.

“Our aim is to ensure that everyone attending this music festival has a fun day out with their mates,” Supt. Sicard said.

“If you do the right thing you will have fun but we must ensure it is a safe environment for all those attending. I especially want to discourage anyone thinking they can bring and take drugs at this festival. Recreational drugs are dangerous, illegal and potentially life-threatening.”

“Those in possession of illicit substances can expect to be caught. We will have drug detection dogs as well as a large number of overt and covert Police resources aimed at catching those taking or dealing illegal drugs.”

NSW Police encourages anyone under the influence of drugs or excessive amount of alcohol who feels unwell to seek professional medical attention. First Aid officers will attend this weekend’s event.

Richmond Local Area Command

7-year- old boy missing and later found next to flood waters – Casino

A 7-year-old boy was reported missing by his grandmother in Casino yesterday after it was thought that the child was heading to the local river with a friend.  It is believed that the boy couldn’t swim.

At around 4.50pm on (Sunday 7 February), Police were contacted and told that a 7-year-old boy in company with a 12-year-old boy had headed to the Richmond River after jumping out of a bedroom window of his home, against his grandmother’s wishes.

Grave fears were held for the young boy’s safety due to flooding on the Richmond River and Police immediately set up a Command Post, activating VRA and Westpac Lifesaver 4 to commence searching for the two boys.

Police and VRA made extensive patrols of the river bank on foot whilst patrols were happening in the air by the Westpac helicopter.

At around 5.50pm the young boys were located by patrolling Highway Patrol Officers, hiding in bushland on adjacent to Simpson Parade, Casino. The young boy and his friend were safe and well.

“Due to this child’s age and the fact that he couldn’t swim was of huge concern for both the Police and his grandmother,” said Inspector Gary Cowan.

“Local children who ordinarily swim in these sections of the river are to be reminded of the dangers associated with flood waters.

“Police urge parents to talk to their children and remind them of the dangers of not going near the water,” Inspector Cowan said.

Police urge all parents and guardians to ensure that your children learn to swim as well as learning the dangers associated with swimming in local rivers.

Assistant Commissioner John Hartley

Traffic Services Commander

“P” Plate driver’s ignore the dangers and continue to speed and drink drive

After a weekend where NSW saw the deaths of three young people in a single ‘P’ plate crash, it beggars belief that young provisional driver’s still ignore the dangers of speeding and drink driving.

In two separate incidents over the weekend, Police across NSW have yet again been dealing with young drivers who continue to exceed the speed limit and drive whilst intoxicated.

At 2am on Sunday (7 February), a 20-year-old Airds man was driving a Mazda MX6 South on the Hume Highway at Casula, when highway patrol officers will allege they detected the vehicle travelling at a speed of 132km/h in a 70 km/h sign posted area, some 62 km over the speed limit.

The man was issued with an Infringement Notice for Exceed Speed Limit more than 45 km/hr and his Provisional (P1) license was immediately suspended and confiscated.

At around 3am on Sunday (7 February) a 19-year-old Tumbi Umbi woman was driving a Toyota Corolla south on Tuggerah Parade at Long Jetty, when Police observed the vehicle to stall in the middle of an intersection.

The woman has re-started the vehicle and driven it into Lions Park where she stopped, got out of the car, and ran into bushland. Police chased the woman on foot and arrested her for a roadside breath test.

The woman failed the road side breath test and was conveyed to the Entrance Police Station where she submitted to a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.185. The legal limit for a provisional (P1) driver is zero.

The woman’s provisional (P1) license was immediately suspended. She was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for the offence of Drive with High Range PCA and will appear in Wyong Local Court on 10 March.

Central Hunter Local Area Command

Police charge man over road rage incident – Hunter Valley

Police have arrested and charged a teenage “P-Plate” driver with allegedly brandishing a firearm at a female driver during a road rage incident at Maitland in the State’s Hunter Valley.

Officers from the Central Hunter Local Area Command allege a 17-year-old girl was driving along Aberglassyn Road at Rutherford around 10.20pm on Saturday 6 February, unaware she had activated the high beam on her car’s headlights.

It is alleged that a utility driver in front of her switched positions and began following the 17-year-old.

She told Police both vehicles pulled to the side of the road and the male driver got out and approached her.

It is alleged that he exchanged words with her two passengers, produced a firearm and pointed it at each of the occupants, repeatedly sliding the pump-action loader.

Police allege the man returned to his car and drove off.

A short time later Police Officers arrived.

Following further inquiries Police travelled to a home in Avery Street, Rutherford, where they arrested an 18-year-old man.

The man was taken to the Maitland Police Station where he was charged with:

• Use offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence,
• Drive vehicle in manner that menaces others with intent,
• Three counts of stalk/intimidate/intend fear of physical/mental harm.

The teenager was granted conditional bail and ordered to appear before the Maitland Local Court on 1 March.

Newtown Local Area Command

Man arrested after pointing a replica firearm at motorists – St Peters

Police are appealing for witnesses after a man allegedly pointed a replica firearm at motorists travelling on the Princes Highway, St Peters on Sunday afternoon.

At around 5pm (Sunday 7 February) a female motorist was driving North along the Princes Highway, stopping at a red light at the intersection of Campbell Street, when she saw a man swinging a firearm and then pointing it at passing vehicles travelling South.

The witness alleged that the man pointed the firearm at the vehicles, mimicking that the gun had been fired and recoiled.

The witness immediately called Triple Zero (000).

Police attended a short time later and allegedly saw the man walking North along King Street near the intersection of Darley Street, Newtown, carrying what appeared to be a rifle.

The 23-year-old man from Elizabeth Bay was arrested, the weapon secured, with the man conveyed to Newtown Police Station where he was interviewed and charged with Possess Prohibited Firearm.

The firearm appears to be a replica, possibly similar to a .22 calibre, and will be sent to Ballistics for further assessment.

The man was granted bail to appear in Newtown Local Court on Tuesday 23 February, 2010.

Police are appealing specifically for a group of pedestrians who were seen at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Campbell Street at the time of the incident to come forward and contact Police.

Police are urging those persons or any motorist in the vicinity at this time to contact Detectives at Newtown Police Station on (02) 9550 8148 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in confidence.

Fairfield Local Area Command

A man dies in a single vehicle crash at Wakeley in Sydney’s West

A man has died overnight in a single vehicle collision in Wakeley in Sydney’s West.

About 12.40am on (Monday 8 February), a blue sedan travelling west along Winburnbale Road appears to have left the roadway, struck the kerb, and rolled onto its roof.

The sole occupant/driver, a man believed to be aged between 18 and 22-years-old, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene.

Crash Investigation and Fairfield Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances leading up to the crash.

Police are appealing to anyone who might have witnessed the collision and are yet to speak to investigators to contact them via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in strict confidence.

Griffith Local Area Command

Police charge couple over stabbing attack – Narrandera

Police have charged a man and woman over a stabbing attack on a neighbour at Narrandera in the State’s Riverina.

Just after 7.30am today, Police from Griffith Local Area Command were called to a unit block in Bolton Street after reports that an argument over a car park had led to a stabbing.

When officers arrived they found a 49-year-old man suffering a small knife wound to the ribs.

The man was treated at the scene.

Police arrested a 56-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman over the incident.

Both were taken to the Narrandera Police Station where the woman collapsed.

She was taken to Narrandera Hospital for observation and remains under Police guard.

The man was charged with malicious wounding while the woman was charged with being armed with intent.

The couple was refused bail and is expected to face Griffith Local Court tomorrow.

Griffith Local Area Command

Nine youths arrested, four Police injured during drunken teen brawl – Griffith

Police are blaming underage drinking for a brawl at a 16th birthday party which left nine teenagers arrested and four Police officers injured at Griffith in the state’s Riverina.

Around 11pm yesterday (Saturday 6 February), Police from the Griffith Local Area Command were called to the party in Daines Street, amid reports of 100 people, mainly intoxicated youths, were fighting and behaving in an anti-social manner.

It took officers 30 to 40 minutes to bring the situation under control.

Four officers received treatment at Griffith Hospital for minor injuries including a bite to the arm.

Nine teens, aged between 15 and 18, were arrested and charged with a range of offences including assault Police and failure to move on.

The party had not been registered with local Police who were alerted to the trouble by calls for assistance. Some of the youths were uninvited guests.

Local licensing Police are continuing their investigation into the supply of alcohol to minors at the party in line with the Griffith Local Area Command’s “Supply means Supply” strategy, designed to reduce underage consumption of alcohol.

Griffith Police warn anyone found supplying minors with alcohol risks prosecution and stiff penalties.

Goulburn Local Area Command

Police investigate fatal crash – Gunning

Police are investigating the cause of a fatal single vehicle crash at Gunning, North of Canberra.

Just before 11am today (Sunday 7 February), a passing motorist discovered the crash scene on the Grabben Gullen Road, 6.5 kilometres North of Gunning.

Police believe a Nissan Navara utility was travelling North when it left the roadway and struck a number of pine trees.

The male driver was dead at the scene.

Police from the Goulburn Local Area Command and Forensic Services Group officers attended the site and are trying to determine when the crash happened.

A post mortem examination will be conducted at Goulburn Hospital to determine the exact cause of death.

A report is also being prepared for the coroner.