St George Local Area Command

Police appeal for information after 12 vehicle crash – M5 East

Police are appealing for information after a 12 vehicle crash on the M5 East at Kingsgrove.

About 4.45pm today (Friday 29 January 2010), the vehicles were involved in a collision in a tunnel on the M5 East.

No-one has been trapped in any of the vehicles involved although three people have been treated for minor injuries.

The tunnel was closed for approximately an hour and nine of the vehicles required towing.

Anyone with information about the circumstances surrounding the collision is asked to contact St George Local Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

New England Local Area Command

Highway closed following fatal collision near Tenterfield

Police are appealing for motorists to delay travel on the New England Highway near Tenterfield following a fatal collision.

About 5pm today (Friday 29 January 2010), a Ford Falcon sedan and a BMW 4WD collided on the New England Highway about 10 kilometres north of Tenterfield.

A 54-year-old male died at the scene.

No details are available at this time regarding any injuries sustained by other persons.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision are underway.

Local traffic diversions are in place with the New England Highway blocked to traffic in both directions.

Motorists are asked to delay travel or take alternative routes if possible until further notice.

Anyone with information about the collision is asked to contact Tenterfield Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

St George Local Area Command

TRAFFIC ALERT – Major delays on M5 East at Kingsgrove

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes or delay travel after a major collision on the M5 East at Kingsgrove.

About 4.45pm today (Friday 29 January 2010), several vehicles were involved in a collision in a tunnel on the M5 East.

No-one has been trapped in any of the vehicles involved although three people have been treated for minor injuries.

The tunnel has been blocked and eastbound (citybound) traffic is being affected.

Motorists are advised to avoid the M5 East until further notice and take alternate routes.

Local diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted at Bexley Road and King Georges Road.

Anyone with information about the circumstances surrounding the collision is asked to contact St George Local Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Manly Local Area Command

Second man arrested over woman’s death, skeletal remains located at North Head last year — Homicide Squad

Detectives from the Homicide Squad and Manly Local Area Command have this morning arrested a second man following investigations into the death of Melloney Menhennitt who disappeared from Manly in 2004.

Just before 8.30am today, detectives arrested a 29-year-old man on Darlinghurst Road at Kings Cross before being taken to Kings Cross Police Station.

The man was subsequently charged with murder. The man has been refused bail and will appear at Central local Court today.

Today’s arrest follows ongoing investigations into the death of a woman, Melloney Menhennitt, in 2004.

Melloney, who was 23 years old at the time, was reported missing to Police by her parents on Wednesday 24 March 2004 after she was not heard of for some days.

Skeletal remains which have been identified as that of Melloney Menhennitt were discovered on 26 September last year, by people searching for bottles in bushland off North Head Scenic Drive, within the Sydney Harbour National Park.

A subsequent search of bushland at North Head was conducted by officers from the Public Order Riot Squad on 29 September this year. (Vision of the search was previously issued by Police).

A 42-year-old man was previously arrested by Police on Wednesday 20 January and charged with murder. He will re-appear at Central Local Court on 11 March, 2010.

Strike Force Glenidol was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Melloney Menhennitt and comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, with assistance from Manly Local Area Command.

Investigations by Police are continuing.

Griffith Local Area Command

Third person arrested over Griffith murder of Indian National

Police this morning arrested a third person in connection with the murder of Indian National, Ranjodh Singh, whose partially burnt body was found dumped on the side of a road near Griffith last December.

Detectives from Griffith Local Area Command and the State Crime Command Homicide Squad arrested a 25-year-old man at his home in Wagga Wagga shortly after 9am.

The man is expected to appear before Wagga Wagga Local Court later today charged with murder.

Two others, a 23-year-old man and 20-year-old woman, will face Sutherland Local Court this morning also charged with Mr Singh’s murder.

Griffith LAC Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Paul Smith reconfirmed the attack on Mr Singh did not appear to be racially motivated.

“It will be alleged all the persons involved in this matter were well known to the victim and the motive for this horrific crime was not race related,” Det Insp. Smith said.

A number of public appeals for information were made during the investigation with significant information being provided to investigators.

“This result would not have been possible without the assistance of the public and I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those people who came forward with information during the investigation,” Det Insp. Smith said.

“In particular we would like to thank the Indian community of Griffith for their assistance.”

The body of Mr Singh has been released by the Coroner and his remains have been returned to his family in India.

Marrickville Local Area Command

Man faces court following home invasion – Petersham

A man has been charged with serious offences following a home invasion in Sydney’s inner west this week.

About 6.30pm on Monday (25 January), the man allegedly attended an address in Stanmore Road, Petersham, in the company of a second man.

The two men allegedly approached the premises and assaulted two male occupants, aged 31 and 34, before fleeing the scene.

The 39-year-old Darlinghurst man was arrested and charged last night by Marrickville detectives.

He was charged with aggravated enter dwelling with intent, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, armed with intent, enter enclosed land and possess prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court this morning (29 January).

Police are unable to divulge details with regards to the company of the first man from the home invasion.

Harbourside Local Area Command

Man charged with damaging parking meters – Balmoral

A man has been charged over a number of attacks on parking meters on Sydney’s North Shore last month.

Police allege the man damaged 11 of the parking meters on the night of 30/31 December, and a further five parking meters on the night of 31 December and 1 January 2010.

All the damaged parking meters were situated on The Esplanade, Balmoral Beach.

On Thursday 21 January police from Harbourside Local Area Command executed a search warrant at an address in Mosman.

About 3pm yesterday (28 January), a 55-year-old Mosman man attended North Sydney Police Station where he was charged with 16 counts of malicious damage in relation to the incidents.

The man was granted conditional bail not to go within 20 metres of any parking meter at Balmoral, and he will appear at North Sydney Local Court on Tuesday 23 February.

St Marys Local Area Command

Three charged with serious offences – Operation Countdown

Shortly after 9.30pm on Thursday 21 January, Police from St Mary’s Local Area Command sighted two male youths in a stolen Holden Statesman in Elseworth Drive, Tregear, and attempted to stop the vehicle.

The Holden sped away before Police initiated a pursuit east towards Mt Druitt.

Police lost sight of the vehicle before it was again sighted travelling east on the Great Western Highway at St Marys.

About 10.30pm the stolen vehicle was again sighted in Aurora Drive, Tregear, when another pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit went through Tregear, St Marys, Shalvey and Hassall Grove before going onto the M7 motorway. The Holden exited the motorway onto Sunnyholt Road, where the pursuit was again terminated.

Police again sighted the vehicle at Glendenning and followed it through Doonside, Rooty Hill, Mt Druitt, Dharruk and Shalvey, with Polair monitoring the pursuit.

The Holden was eventually located dumped in Dent Place, Shalvey, after the two male youths had fled the scene.

The Holden was allegedly stolen in an aggravated break and enter incident at a home in Glenwood on Sunday 17 January.

Yesterday afternoon (28 January), officers from ‘Operation Countdown’ executed two search warrants at homes in Kingswood and South Penrith, allegedly uncovering an amount of stolen property.

Police arrested three males and they were taken to Penrith Police Station.

A 17-year-old Shalvey youth was charged with five counts of aggravated break, enter and steal, and numerous offences relating to stolen vehicles and traffic offences.

An 18-year-old Shalvey man was charged with being carried in a conveyance without consent of owner, receive stolen property and breach bail.

A 17-year-old St Clair youth was charged with being carried in a conveyance without consent of owner.

They were all bail refused to appear at Parramatta Children’s Court today.

Operation Count Down commenced on Sunday 28 June 2009 with officers from the North West Metropolitan Region targeting all categories of property theft including break and enter, stealing and shoplifting.

Coffs/ Clarence Local Area Command

Fatal crash – Dorrigo

A report will be prepared for the Coroner after the death of a woman in a crash in the State’s North yesterday.

About 5.45pm a Toyota Corolla sedan was travelling east on Waterfall Road, about 14km west of Dorrigo, when it collided head-on with a west bound stock truck.

The driver of the sedan, a 21-year-old Armidale woman, died at the scene.

Police from Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command attended the scene and the road was blocked while Police conducted an investigation.

The 71-year-old truck driver assisted police with inquiries at the scene and attended Dorrigo Hospital for mandatory blood and urine tests.

Any witnesses to the collision are urged to contact Coffs Harbour Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Surry Hills Local Area Command

Seven people charged during raids on alleged $3.7 m Ice distribution syndicate

Police investigating an alleged drug syndicate have charged seven people and seized illegal drugs following a number of raids across Sydney where two clandestine laboratories were discovered.

In November 2009, Police from Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad formed Strike Force Forsythe to investigate the distribution of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) in inner and South-West Sydney.

Following a controlled operation, heavily armed Police from the State Protection Group’s Tactical Operations Unit as well as officers from the Region Enforcement Squad (Surry Hills) executed five simultaneous search warrants at homes in Bankstown, Hinchinbrook, Merrylands and West Ryde last night.

Police Operation underway

Six men and a woman were arrested during the raids and taken to Police stations in Green Valley, Newtown and Redfern.

The arrests include:

• A 39-year-old West Ryde man charged with supplying prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
• A 33-year-old Doonside man charged with supplying prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
• A 38-year-old Mount Druitt man charged with supplying a commercial quantity of prohibited drug.
• A 41-year-old Mount Druitt man charged with supplying prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
• A 44-year-old Werrington County man charged with supplying prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).
• A 24-year-old Hinchinbrook charged with supplying prohibited drug (commercial quantity).
• A 28-year-old Cromer woman charged with supplying prohibited drug (large commercial quantity).

All seven were refused bail and are expected to appear at courts across Sydney including Central Local Court, Newtown Local Court and Liverpool Local Court.

Police Operation underway

At two homes in Hinchinbrook, Police discovered two clandestine laboratories with an amount of chemicals and equipment allegedly used to manufacture crystal methamphetamine (Ice) seized.

During the course of the investigation Police allegedly seized 3.1kg of Ice with an estimated potential street value of $3.7 million which equates to approximately 63,000 individual drug deals.

Police also seized over 200 ecstasy pills and $40,000 during the raids.

Acting Central Metropolitan Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith alleged Police had put a major drug distribution ring out of business.

“In just three months, our expert investigators have managed to identify and dismantle what we allege is a significant drug operation peddling ice in Sydney’s South-West and the city.

“All illegal drugs have the potential to have serious health issues but ice is particularly nasty and is often produced in very dangerous environments using potentially lethal chemicals” said Assistant Commissioner Smith.

“People who use the drug ice are prone to serious side effects such as uncontrollable violence, hallucinations, paranoid delusions and bizarre behaviour.

“In recent months, Police have targeted alleged drug suppliers operating at a host of music festivals across NSW, now we are putting the squeeze on their street-level trade as well,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Smith said.

Investigations by Strike Force Forsythe are continuing with further arrests expected and Police are urging anyone with information about the operation or the illegal manufacture, distribution and supply of prohibited drugs to contact their local Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.