St George Local Area Command

Police appeal for information following armed robbery and pursuits

Police are appealing for information after an armed robbery and two pursuits in Sydney’s South overnight.

About 10pm (on Sunday 10 January) two men, one allegedly armed with a firearm confronted staff and patrons at a Bowling Club at Taren Point.

The two men were given a quantity of cash before leaving the scene, in a stolen black Volkswagen Golf possibly being driven by a third man.

A description of the Volkswagen was circulated via Police radio and a short time later it was spotted by St George Police on the Princes Highway at Kogarah.

A pursuit was initiated which ended when the Volkswagen crashed into a silver Nissan Pulsar at the intersection of Brodie Sparkes Drive and the Princes Highway at Wolli Creek.

A 24-year-old man driving the Nissan and a 26-year-old female passenger were trapped in their car for a short period. Police at the scene rendered immediate assistance prior to the arrival of Ambulance and Fire Brigades officers.

The man and woman were freed and taken to St George Hospital. The woman suffered a broken wrist and head lacerations, she currently remains in a stable condition. The man suffered minor injuries and is currently under observation.

Meanwhile, possibly two offenders, fled the crash scene on foot, while a 36-year-old Glebe man, allegedly car jacked a nearby silver Toyota Corolla driven by a 25-year-old Rockdale man.

The Glebe man threatened the driver and demanded he drive North along the Princes Highway.

Police pursued the car into Gannon Street at Tempe where it collided with two Police cars.

A violent struggle ensured between Police and the 36-year-old man before he was arrested. The man was taken to St George Hospital suffering chest pains. He currently remains in hospital under Police guard and will be interviewed when deemed medically fit.

Crime scenes were established at Gannon Street, Tempe and the Princes Highway at Wolli Creek. Police allegedly located a firearm and the alleged proceeds of the armed robbery inside the Volkswagen.

Searches were conducted of the surrounding area in a bid to locate the men who were last seen running from the intersection of Brodie Sparkes Drive and the Princes Highway.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact St George Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Mid North Coast Local Area Command

Man dies in backyard pool area – Port Macquarie

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner after the death of a man in Port Macquarie today.

About 8.30am, Police and Ambulance Officers were called to a house in Amethyst Way as a man was unconscious slumped over the edge of a swimming pool with his head and torso out of the water.

The neighbour who located the man began CPR on the 46-year-old which was continued by ambulance officers. He was unable to be revived.

Police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

NSW Ambulance Service

Green Valley Local Area Command

Three men in court following alleged armed hold up – Green Valley

Three men will face Liverpool Local Court following an alleged armed hold-up of a hotel in Sydney’s South West last night.

About 9.15pm (Sunday 10 January), three men entered a hotel on Cartwright Avenue at Green Valley.

Police will allege one of the men was armed with a machete and the other two men were armed with screw drivers.

The men allegedly threatened staff and at one point the machete was allegedly swung at patrons.

One of the men allegedly attempted to steal a sum of cash from the hotel before assaulting a security guard and attempting to leave the premises.

Green Valley Police arrived at the hotel while the alleged attempted robbery was in progress.

The officers were able to apprehend the three men and placed them under arrest and conveyed them to Green Valley Police Station.

Superintendent Mark Szalajko, commander of the Green Valley Local Area Command, said the two officers involved in the arrest would be formally recognised for their “bravery and good Police work”.

“The two officers were in the right place at the right time,” he said.

“They were conducting an inspection of the hotel and walked in on the armed robbery.

“Their quick response ensured no one was hurt and the offenders were apprehended.”

A 23-year-old Marrickville man, a 24-year-old Ashfield man and a 18-year-old man from Lidcombe were each charged with:

• One count each of armed robbery in company,
• One count each of detain person for advantage.

The three men were refused bail and held in custody to appear before Liverpool Local Court today.

Barrier Local Area Command

Inquiries continue following double road fatality – White Cliffs

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner after two 18-year-old men were killed in a single-vehicle crash in the State’s West overnight (Sunday 10 January).

Inquiries into the cause of the incident continue, however it appear about 9.30pm a green Holden Gemini was travelling South on the Glen Hope Road at White Cliffs, near Wilcannia, when it left the unsealed road and drove into the table drain on the eastern side of the road.

The car then rolled a number of times and three of the four occupants were ejected from the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, aged 18, and a male passenger, also aged 18, died at the scene.

The two other occupants, two males aged 18 and 17, were taken to the Broken Hill Base Hospital for treatment of non life threatening injuries.

The two deceased men were from White Cliffs and the two injured males from interstate.

Inquiries into the cause of the incident continue, however initial investigations by Police suggest alcohol and lack of seatbelts were factors.

The two survivors will be formally interviewed today by Broken Hill detectives.

Tweed/Byron Local Area Command

Woman caught driving six times over the limit with two children in car – Kingscliff

Police have charged a woman with high range drink driving after she was caught over six times the legal limit with two children on board.

About 11.10am yesterday (10 January) police stopped a Lexus four wheel drive on Sutherland Street, Kingscliff for a random breath test.

The 38-year-old Casuarina woman returned a positive reading and was arrested at the scene.

At the time her two children aged eight and six were in the vehicle.

She was taken to Kingscliff Police Station where she allegedly recorded a reading of 0.325.

She was charged with high range PCA to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on 25 January.

Police have notified the Department of Community Services of the incident.

Clarence Local Area Command

Father and son die in crash near Grafton

A father and son died in a head-on crash North of Grafton last night.

About 9.10pm, a Holden Commodore and a Toyota station wagon collided head-on along the Summerland Way, approximately 40 kilometres from Grafton.

The 23-year-old driver of the Commodore died at the scene, while his 48-year-old father died after being airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital.

Both men were from Grafton.

The driver of the Toyota and sole occupant, a 35-year-old man, was airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital with significant injuries.

He remains in a serious but stable condition.

The road was blocked in both directions until a short time ago, while crash investigators from Ballina examined the scene.

They are appealing for anyone who witnessed the crash to contact them via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

St George Local Area Command

Armed robbers pursued – Taren Point

A man is in hospital under Police guard following an armed robbery and pursuit in Sydney’s South last night.

Shortly after 10pm, two men armed with a firearm confronted staff at a bowling club in Taren Point.

They stole money and drove from the scene with a third man in a Volkswagen Golf.

A description of the car was circulated via Police radio and a short time later it was spotted in Kogarah by officers from St George Local Area Command.

A pursuit was initiated which ended when the car crashed into a silver sedan at the intersection of Brodie Sparkes Drive and the Princes Highway at Wolli Creek.

A female passenger in the silver vehicle suffered a broken wrist as a result of the crash and was taken to St George Hospital.

Two of the offenders fled the crash scene on foot, while the third offender carjacked a Pulsar and drove from the scene with the motorist at gunpoint.

Police pursued the Pulsar to Gannon Road at Tempe, where the car stopped after a minor crash with two Police cars.

The man was arrested. He has since complained of chest pains and has been taken to hospital where he is under Police guard.

The 40-year-old man will be interviewed by detectives after medical assessment. The carjacked motorist was not injured.

Police seized a firearm and found the alleged proceeds of the armed robbery at the scene.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith held a media conference in relation to the matter and was asked if: “Police pursuits were being used too frequently.” To which Acting Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith replied: “Police have strict guidelines from which to follow and that offenders faced penalties ranging from 14 up to 25 years.”

As to whether or not judicial sentencing is too lenient Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith declined to comment and remarked that “Police apprehend offenders and place them before the courts for the court’s determination.”

Anyone who knows the identity of the other two men involved should immediately contact St George Local Area Command via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Hunter Valley Local Area Command

Dam search for missing teenager – Scone

A search will resume this morning for a teenager missing on a dam near Scone.

About 4pm yesterday, the 17-year-old boy was boating with friends on a 3.7 metre runabout on Glenbawn Dam in the Lake Glenhaven State Park.

At a point approximately 100 metres West of the Eastern shore, the teenager jumped into the water but did not resurface.

A search of the area was conducted until nightfall by local Police, local boats, the SES, and a rescue helicopter, however the boy was not found.

The search will recommence this morning which will also involve NSW Police divers.

North West Metropolitan Region

Off-duty Police officer charged with drink-driving – Mascot

An off-duty Police officer attached to North West Metropolitan Region will face court after allegedly being detected drink-driving at Mascot.

About 8.48am today (Sunday 10 January 2010), the 26-year-old Constable was driving on General Holmes Drive when he was stopped for the purpose of a random breath test.

The man allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test. He was arrested and a subsequent breath analysis returned a reading of 0.081.

The constable has been issued a field court attendance notice for the offence of mid-range prescribed concentration of alcohol (PCA).

The Constable will appear at Waverley Local Court on 3 February 2010.

City Central Local Area Command

Two charged after CBD glassing

Two men have been charged after an alleged glassing at a hotel bar in the Sydney CBD this morning.

Emergency services were called to the scene about 12.35am when a fight broke out between three men in a bar on the fourth floor of a hotel on George Street.

Police will allege a 21-year-old man used a broken glass to punch a 22-year-old man in the face after being wrestled to the ground.

The injured man was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment to several deep cuts to the right side of his face.

Hotel security held two men until Police arrived and took them to City Central Police Station.

The 21-year-old Strathfield man was charged with cause grievous bodily harm with intent, and affray. He was refused bail to attend Parramatta Bail Court today.

A second man, aged 20 from Canterbury, was charged with assault and affray. He was granted bail and is due to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on 2 February.