Monaro Local Area Command

Fatal single vehicle collision – Kings Highway, Braidwood

Motorists are advised to avoid travel on the Kings Highway between Braidwood and Canberra until further notice following a fatal single vehicle incident.

About 2.55pm today, a Toyota Camry carrying three males believed to be aged in their late teens or early 20’s, was being driven in a Westerly direction on the highway near Deloraine Road, about 3kms from Braidwood.

The vehicle is believed to have crossed to the incorrect side of the roadway and overturned, colliding with a tree.

One male, believed to be the driver, has been confirmed deceased at the scene.

The second male has been seriously injured and transferred to Canberra Hospital while the third male has been taken to hospital with minor injuries.

A crime scene has been established and Specialist Police and rescue teams are in attendance as a report will be prepared for the Coroner into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police have a number of local traffic diversions are in place, including at Nerriga Road.

The Kings Highway is not expected to be fully reopened to traffic until at least 8pm and motorists are asked to take alternate routes or delay travel until further notice.

From personal experience Editor Victor P Taffa has driven along the Princes and Kings Highways. While drivers have to take care the level of concentration required to proceed along sub-standard roads brings with it the slightest slip of attention that has fatal consequences.

Victor P Taffa

Acting Commissioner Dave Owens has defended the performance of his officers as an investigation gets underway into the Police pursuit of two armed and dangerous men on 31 December 2009 at Ingleburn.

Community concerns about the safety of a Police pursuit may seem founded however without the ability to pursue persons who are determined to break the law Police would simply cease to be able to do what they are trained to do.

When Police are unable to carry out duties that protect the public is when law and order will simply collapse.

“We have very strict guidelines in place which our officers adhere to and last night (31 December 2009) these guidelines went from General Duties vehicles to Highway Patrol vehicles engaging in this pursuit.” Acting Commissioner Dave Owens said.

“They (Highway Patrol) are our highest trained officers to a level above General Duties officers and the Polair Helicopter was over the top of the vehicles.”

“These armed and dangerous men were determined to get away.” Acting Commissioner Dave Owens said.

“The safety of the community comes first in Police pursuits. It has to.”

There will be a full investigation into the Police pursuit that involved the death of a two year old.

City Central Local Area Command

Police appeal after man assaulted – City Central

Police are appealing for information after a man was allegedly assaulted near a nightclub in Cockle Bay.

About 5.30am today a man was ejected from a night club due to his level of intoxication and was found moments later in a laneway near Wheat Road.

He was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for treatment to a suspected broken jaw.

City Central Police are investigating the assault and are appealing to anyone who might have been in Wheat Road and saw what happened to contact them.

Detectives are also appealing for anyone who might know the identity of a man believed to be of Pacific Islander appearance who was seen getting into a taxi soon after the man was injured.

Anyone with information on the assault or the identity of the man is urged to contact City Central Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. All information will be treated in strict confidence.

Assistant Commissioner John Hartley

Traffic Services Branch

NSW Holiday road toll rises to 20

The State’s Christmas-New Year holiday road toll has risen to 20 following the deaths of a 26-year-old woman and a two-year-old girl.

About 4.30pm yesterday, a 26-year-old woman died in Canberra Hospital after being injured in a single vehicle collision on the Lachlan Valley Way near Boorowa in the State’s South on 24 December 2009.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner in relation to the circumstances surrounding her death.

A critical incident investigation team is investigating the circumstances involving the death of the child following a Police pursuit at Ingleburn in Sydney’s South-West overnight.

Shortly before 7pm, police were chasing a white Chrysler Voyager which then collided with the rear of a blue Subaru carrying a two-year-old girl who sustained fatal injuries. A man and woman, also in the Subaru, were taken to Liverpool Hospital where they are reported to be in a stable condition.

On Day 14 of OPERATION SAFE ARRIVAL, the State’s Christmas-New Year holiday road safety campaign, Police issued a total of 1005 traffic infringement notices that is 163 more than for the same period last year.

A total of 33,444 random breath tests were conducted, 2519 less than for the same period last year. No figures relating the PCA charges are available at this time.

Examples of irresponsible driver behaviour in the last 24 hours include:

KATOOMBA: About 12pm yesterday (Thursday 31 December 2009), a Toyota Camry sedan collided with a bus in Lurline Street. The 25-year-old male driver of the Toyota was detained by an off-duty police officer with the assistance of the coach driver. Police attended and a small resealable plastic bag containing cannabis was allegedly located. The man was also subjected to a roadside breath test and allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.192. Checks revealed he wasn’t the holder of a current NSW Drivers Licence and had never held one. The vehicle’s owner was contacted and stated that the car had been stolen earlier that day. The 25-year-old man was charged with High Range PCA, Unlicensed Driver – Never Held a Licence, Possess Prohibited Drug and Take and Drive Conveyance without Consent of Owner. He’ll appear in Katoomba Local Court on 20 January 2010.

DOUGLAS PARK: About 2.25am yesterday, a Holden Commodore was allegedly detected travelling at 170km/h in a 110km/h of the Hume Highway. The vehicle was stopped and the male driver was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for Drive at a Speed Dangerous and Exceed Speed over 45 km/h. He’ll appear in Picton Local Court on 23 February 2010.

TAREE: About 1.40am yesterday, the “P” plate male driver of a Subaru was stopped in Victoria Street and subjected to a random breath test which allegedly returned a positive result of 0.095. He was charged with mid range PCA, and police immediately suspended and confiscated his licence.

TUROSS HEAD: About 8.08pm yesterday, a 35-year-old male from Bodalla was stopped on Hawkins Road and subjected to a random breath test. He allegedly returned a positive result 0.020 and was charged with Special Range PCA, Disqualified Driver, Unregistered, Uninsured, and Plates Calculated to deceive. He will appear at Moruya Local Court in February 2010.

ROSEDALE: About 11.59pm yesterday, a 16-year-old male from the ACT was stopped on George Bass Drive for the purpose of a random breath test. After allegedly returning a positive result of 0.035, he was charged with Special Range PCA, Unlicenced Driver Never Held, and Carrying three intoxicated unrestrained passengers in the rear luggage section of a station wagon. He will appear at Batemans Bay Local Court in February 2010.

OPERATION REALM

Fireworks arrest – Auburn

Police have arrested three people after fireworks were aimed at houses, cars and members of the public in Auburn last night.

About 9pm, a group of males gathered on Union Road and began letting off fireworks.

It will be alleged the fireworks struck a number of houses and cars.

When officers attached to OPERATION REALM went to the location their vehicles were also hit by fireworks.

Following a struggle, Police arrested two men, aged 20, and one a teenager, aged 17.

The two men from Auburn and Guildford have been charged with a range of offences including Assaulting Police and Affray.

The two men will both appear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday 21 January.

The third male has been issued with a juvenile caution for offensive language.

Strike Force Royalist

Surry Hills Local Area Command

Victoria Police

Police extradite woman from Melbourne – Strike Force Royalist

A woman has been extradited from Victoria and charged with drug offences following investigations into an alleged syndicate using ‘drug mules’ to smuggle crystal methamphetamine (Ice) between Sydney and Perth on domestic airline flights.

Strike Force Royalist was established in September by officers from the Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad to investigate the supply and trafficking of a large amount of drugs between New South Wales and Western Australia.

Strike force investigators allegedly uncovered a syndicate moving drugs between Sydney, Perth and Kalgoorlie through the use of couriers on domestic flights.

Two men, a 34-year-old from Peakhurst in Sydney and a 35-year-old from Tuart Hill in Perth, were arrested on Tuesday 10 November, allegedly boarding a plane at Sydney Airport.

The men were both charged with Supply commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and refused bail.

About 7am Wednesday 16 December, Strike Force officers, assisted by a drug detection dog, executed warrants at homes in Epsom Road at Chipping Norton; Black Lion Place at Kensington; Dennison Street at Dulwich Hill and O’Riordan Street at Mascot.

During these search warrants five people were arrested and charged with a number of drug offences while a search of the Chipping Norton address allegedly uncovered a large amount of prohibited drugs.

Victoria Police

On Wednesday 30 December, a 26-year-old woman was arrested by Victorian Police at Carlton Police Station after a warrant for her arrest was issued for the offence of commercial drug supply.

The woman appeared at Melbourne Central Court where she was refused bail.

Yesterday Police from the Surry Hills Region Enforcement Squad extradited the woman to Sydney where she was taken to the Sydney Police Centre and charged with Supply prohibited drug greater than commercial quantity.

The woman was refused bail and is expected to appear at Parramatta Bail Court today.

Investigations into the matter are continuing and one more member of the alleged syndicate, a 35-year-old man from Kensington, is still being sought by Police.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli

Police presence ensures a safe and happy New Year’s Eve across Sydney

Police conducted this year’s New Year’s Eve security operation under the banner of OPERATION REALM with in excess of 2,500 Police deployed across the metropolitan area.

The aim of the operation was to ensure that all visitors and locals to the city celebrated New Year’s Eve safely with family and friends.

The Police Commander for this year’s operation, Assistant Commissioner Frank Mennilli, praised the vast majority of revellers for their good behaviour.

“I believe that the estimated crowd of 1 million people that came into the city to enjoy the celebrations during the evening and the comparatively low number of arrests, demonstrates that people just want to have a good time safely and responsibly,” said Mr Mennilli.

“The policing operation has been a success with only a small minority of people breaking the law, drinking too much and just generally acting irresponsibly.

“It is one of the busiest nights of the year for police, who committed large numbers of officers to this event, in an effort to reduce the incidents of anti-social behaviour, especially alcohol related crime and violence.

“However, time and time again, alcohol seems to be the main contributing factor in people’s behaviour, which resulted in a number of people being arrested or treated by ambulance,” he said.

Throughout the evening Police arrested 130 people with a total of 117 charges. Final figures for the operation are still being compiled.

Charges have been laid for offences include:

• Possess prohibited drugs,
• Assault,
• Offensive conduct,
• Resist arrest
• Drink driving.

The drugs seized by Police included:

• Cannabis
• Amphetamines.

OPERATION REALM comprised of:

• General Duties Police,
• Highway Patrol,
• Public Order & Riot Squad,
• Mounted Police,
• Police Aviation,
• Dog Squad,
• Water Police,
• Commuter Crime officers.

Critical Incident Investigation Unit

Man charged following critical incident – Ingleburn

A critical incident investigation team are investigating the circumstances involving the death of a child following a Police pursuit in Ingleburn last night.

Police will allege an armed hold up occurred shortly after 6pm at a bottle shop on Forest Road, Peakhurst, followed soon after by a second armed robbery of a bottle shop in Cook Crescent East Hills.

In both robberies, two men allegedly produced a weapon, threatened staff and stole a sum of cash.

They allegedly escaped both robberies in a white Chrysler Voyager.

Police patrolling the area sighted the suspect vehicle in East Hills and attempted to pull the car over.

A pursuit was initiated and continued along the Hume Highway, Ingleburn where it collided with the rear of a blue Subaru carrying a two-year-old girl.

• The two year old received fatal injuries.

A man and woman, also in the Subaru, were taken to Liverpool Hospital where they are reported to be stable.

Two men driving the Voyager where arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Hospital where the 26-year-old is being treated, and the 21-year-old has been released into Police custody.

The man was taken to Campbelltown Police Station where he was charged with robbery whilst armed with a dangerous weapon, and a warrant.

The man was refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Bail Court today.

The Hume Highway is now open.

City Central Local Area Command

Malicious wounding – City

Police are investigating a stabbing which occurred in the city last night.

About 10.45pm Police were called to a bar on Goulburn Street, Haymarket after reports that a male had been stabbed.

On arrival Police located a 19-year-old man on nearby Dixon Street suffering from multiple stab wounds to his back, chest and buttock.

The man had been stabbed by unknown persons in the bar on Goulburn Street.

The man was treated by ambulance and taken to St Vincent’s Hospital where he remains in a stable condition.

No arrests have yet been made over the incident.

A crime scene was established and detectives from City Central Local Area Command are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Critical Incident Investigation Unit

Critical incident investigation – Ingleburn

A critical incident investigation team will investigate the circumstances involving the death of a child following a Police pursuit in Ingleburn last night. (31 December 2009)

Police will allege an armed hold up occurred shortly after 6pm at a bottle shop in Peakhurst, followed soon after by a second armed robbery of a bottle shop in Cook Crescent East Hills.

In both robberies, two men allegedly produced weapons, and escaped from the scene in a Chrysler Voyager.

Police patrolling the area sighted the suspect vehicle and attempted to pull the car over.

A pursuit was initiated and continued along the Hume Highway, Ingleburn where it collided with a vehicle, resulting in the death of a 2-year-old child.

A man and woman, also in the vehicle, where taken to Liverpool Hospital and their condition is stable.

Two men driving the Voyager where arrested at the scene and taken to Liverpool Hospital where one is being treated, and the other has been released into Police custody.

He is currently being questioned by Police.

The Hume Highway remains closed southbound between Brooks Road and Campbelltown Road and motorists are urged to use alternate routes.