Green Valley Local Area Command

Brothers caught allegedly street racing – Ashcroft

Two Ashcroft brothers have had their cars confiscated and will appear in court next month after allegedly taking part in a street race in Sydney’s West earlier this week.

About 9.45pm on Thursday 7 January Green Valley Police were parked in Sutton Road at Ashcroft when they allegedly heard a number of Vehicles Street racing through the area.

A short time later, Police allegedly witnessed two cars appear to line up on the raised pedestrian crossing near the intersection of Sutton Road and Strickland Crescent.

The two cars allegedly accelerated harshly and travelled the length of Sutton Road, before being stopped by Police near the intersection of Byrne and McGee Streets.

As a result the two male drivers, aged 17 and 20, who were brothers, were both charged with organise/promote/take part in race between two vehicles.

The 17-year-old was also charged with not complying with his licence conditions and not displaying P-plates.

The two had their licences suspended by Police on the spot.

Police seized a Mitsubishi Mirage allegedly driven by the 17-year-old and a Nissan Pulsar driven by the 20-year-old man.

Both males will appear at Liverpool Local Court on Thursday 4 February 2010.

Lake Illawarra Local Area Command

P-plater dies in crash – Kiama

A P-plater has died in a single car crash on the State’s South Coast this morning.

About 1.40am, the 21-year-old man was driving a Honda sedan in a southerly direction along the Princes Highway at Kiama Heights.

Approximately 200 metres south of South Kiama Drive the car hit and went through a railing, crashed down an embankment and flipped onto its roof, before coming to a rest on a rural property.

The driver from Werri Beach died at the scene.

Police from Lake Illawarra Local Area Command and other emergency services attended the scene.

They have been examining the site for the past several hours and will include all their findings in a report for the Coroner.

The road was partially closed but has now been fully reopened to traffic.

Anyone who saw the car in the lead up to the crash is urged to contact investigators via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Fairfield Local Area Command

Two charged over sex assault – Parramatta

Police have charged two youths in relation to the sexual assault of a teenage girl in Parramatta last month.

It will be alleged that sometime after 1pm on Christmas Eve, the 17-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in a shopping centre car park stairwell.

The matter was reported and detectives from Parramatta Local Area Command initiated an investigation.

About 5pm yesterday, two boys aged 15 and 17 presented themselves to officers at Fairfield Police Station.

They were interviewed by detectives overnight and each charged with aggravated sexual assault.

The pair has been refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Children’s Court today.

Fairfield Local Area Command

Two in custody over sex assault – Parramatta

Two youths have been arrested in relation to the alleged sexual assault of a teenager on Christmas Eve.

About 5pm today, the two boys aged 15 and 17 presented themselves to officers at Fairfield Police Station.

They are currently being interviewed by detectives in relation to the alleged incident in a car park stairwell near Parramatta Railway Station.

Police wish to thank the public and the media for the assistance.

Griffith Local Area Command

Police release image of car following on-going investigation into man’s death – Griffith

Police investigating the suspicious death of a man whose body was found partially burnt on the side of the road near Griffith last week are appealing for information from the public as they continue their inquiries.

About 9am on Tuesday 29 December a member of the public found the body of 25-year-old Ranjodh Singh, an Indian National who had been living in Wagga Wagga and visiting the Griffith area at the time.

Griffith Local Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Paul Smith said Police had received significant amounts of information from members of the public following the man’s death.

However Police are now keen to hear from anyone who may have information about a car seen in the Griffith and Wagga Wagga areas around the time of Mr Singh’s death.

“Police are currently following a number of lines of inquiry into Mr Singh’s death, and are interested in hearing from anyone who may have witnessed a red 1996 model Ford Falcon with a spoiler on the back, in and around the Griffith and Wagga Wagga areas in the days before and after the discovery of Mr Singh’s body,” Detective Inspector Smith said.

“We would like to hear from anyone who has information about the whereabouts of the car and any information about any possible occupants.

“Police are also keen for anyone to come forward from the Griffith community who may have found anything around the Griffith area they think might be of interest to the Police investigation anything you may have found that is unusual,” said Detective Inspector Smith.

Anyone with any information or items they think may be of interest to Police is urged to contact Griffith Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Shoalhaven Local Area Command

Three men arrested, charged as Police seize firearms and stolen heavy machinery – Shoalhaven region

Police have arrested and charged three men after seizing firearms and stolen heavy machinery during raids across the Shoalhaven region.

Over the past two days, Police from Shoalhaven and Far South Target Actions Groups executed search warrants on three properties at Berry and another at Bodalla.

Officers allegedly located and seized:

• Two .22 calibre firearms,
• An air rifle,
• A small amount of cannabis.

Stolen heavy machinery including:

• A bobcat loader,
• Three tractors,
• Three excavators,
• A seven-metre flat bottom boat and other items.

Another excavator was later located on a property at Bendalong.

The recovered heavy machinery is believed to be worth about $540,000.

Three men were arrested and questioned by investigating officers.

A 49-year-old Bodalla man was subsequently charged with goods in custody and bailed to appear in Narooma Local Court on 11 February 2010.

A 24-year-old Berry man was charged with:

• Goods in custody,
• Conceal serious indictable offence,
• Larceny,
• Receiving stolen goods.

The man was conditionally bailed to appear in Nowra Local Court on 22 February 2010.

The 42-year-old Berry man was issued a notice to appear in court at a later date for the offence of possessing a prohibited drug.

Parramatta Local Area Command

Police seek help with investigation into sexual assault – Parramatta

Police have released still images of two males who may be able to assist with inquiries into the sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl on Christmas Eve (24 December).

About 1.00pm, the two males befriended the 17-year-old girl at Parramatta Railway Station. The girl went with the males to a nearby shopping centre where she was taken to a fire stairwell in a car park on level 7.

Person Of Interest

The girl has told Police the males then forced her to the ground and sexually assaulted her. The males ran from the scene with the girl attending a nearby store where she reported the incident.

Person Of Interest

Police have released images of two males who may be able to assist them with inquiries into the matter.

The males are both described as being of Middle Eastern/Mediterranean appearance, and aged in their late mid to late teens.

Person Of Interest

Anyone with information on the identity of the males are urged to contact Parramatta Detectives on (02) 9633 0727 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Person Of Interest

Homicide Squad detectives have today conducted a re-creation of the crime scene at Cremorne where 45-year-old Michael McGurk was fatally shot last year.

Strike Force Narrunga detectives, along with officers from specialist units, returned to the area to re-enact the incident and conduct further investigations using laser trajectory technology.

Cranbrook Avenue Cremorne

The operation began at 3.30pm and concluded about 9pm. Cranbrook Avenue was closed for the duration of the operation and will re-open about 10.30pm.

Stand in Michael McGurk car

Specialist officers have re-created the crime scene and conducted a number of tests focusing on ballistic and forensic analysis.

Police Laser testing

Laser bullet trajectory technology was used during the operation to test various angles and distances of the fatal gunshot.

Police Laser testing

Several theories regarding the angle, distance and direction of the gunshot have been tested as part of ongoing investigations.

McGurk murder scene recreation

A Mercedes sedan, similar to the vehicle Mr McGurk was found lying near at the time of the incident, was brought in by police as part of the re-creation.

Police search vicinity of McGurk murder scene

Mr McGurk sustained fatal injuries after he was shot outside his home on Cranbrook Avenue about 6.30pm on 3 September 2009.

Strike Force Narrunga, comprising detectives from the State Crime Command Homicide Squad and Harbourside Local Area Command, was established to investigate the fatal incident.

Possible types of weapons involved

Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Sheehy, Homicide Squad Commander spoke to media at the murder scene recreation and made the following observations:

“Michael McGurk was shot at close quarters in the vicinity of a distance of 10 metres but could be as close as 1 metre.”

“Three tests were conducted. These tests consolidated our forensic evidence.”

“Each of the firearms fires the same calibre of bullet. Three types of firearms were considered in the recreation.”

Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Sheehy, Homicide Squad Commander went onto say:

“Further statements would be taken from residents.”

Police refused to comment if the street had been stalked prior to the shooting.

Investigations are continuing and Police urge anyone who has information about the fatal incident, however small it may seem, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Detective Acting Supt. Mick Sheehy, Homicide Squad Commander

Mount Druitt Local Area Command

Youth charged with armed robbery – Blackett

A male youth has been charged following the robbery of two teenagers at knifepoint in Sydney’s West earlier this week.

About 10.40pm on Wednesday (6 January) two boys, aged 14 and 13 years were walking in a westerly direction along Murdoch Street, Blackett, when they were approached by a male on a bicycle.

It is alleged the male produced a knife, threatened the teens and made demands for property.

The male allegedly stole a mobile phone and necklace from the 14-year-old boy before fleeing in a westerly direction towards Popondetta Road.

Nobody was injured during the incident.

Following inquiries, Mt Druitt Detectives from Strike Force Seller was formed to target local robberies have arrested a 16-year-old Blackett male about 6.20pm yesterday (Thursday 7 January).

The male was taken to Mt Druitt Police Station where he was charged with robbery armed with an offensive weapon.

The male was refused bail and is due to appear at Parramatta Children’s Court today.

Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit

Fatal motor vehicle crash – Wybong

A man has died following a collision involving a utility and a semi trailer in the State’s Hunter region yesterday.

About 4.50pm Police and emergency services were called to Wybong Road, Wybong, after reports of a collision between a Toyota Hilux utility and a semi trailer.

Inquiries into the cause of the crash are continuing, however, it appears that the west bound Ute collided with the east bound semi trailer, which was carrying an articulated loader (a piece of mining equipment).

As a result the driver and sole occupant of the Ute, a 55-year-old Maitland man, died at the scene.

The male truck driver was not injured. He was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital to undergo mandatory tests.

The road remained closed in both directions for several hours while officers from the Newcastle Crash Investigation Unit conducted inquiries into the cause of the crash.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.