Maitland man charged over alleged serious domestic and traffic incidents
A Maitland man will face court tomorrow after being charged with alleged serious domestic and traffic related offences including allegedly kidnapping and assaulting a woman known to him.
In March 2023, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District commenced an investigation after a woman was allegedly assaulted by a man known to her at Upper Allyn.
When the 37-year-old man was unable to be located by officers, a warrant was issued for his arrest and police commenced inquiries into his whereabouts.
Then, on 2 June 2023, police were called to John Hunter Hospital after a woman had presented with serious injuries requiring surgery.
Further inquiries suggest the woman had allegedly been kidnapped by the man six weeks earlier and was held against her will.
About 5pm the next day (Saturday 3 June 2023), the man allegedly assaulted officers during an attempted arrest, before he fled the scene in a Jeep Cherokee towing a camper trailer.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle on Kendall Street in Bellbird; however, when the vehicle failed to stop as directed, a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit continued through Kulnura, where the Jeep swerved to avoid road spikes and collided with a tree, causing the trailer to separate from the vehicle. The pursuit was terminated shortly after due to safety concerns.
Just before 5pm yesterday (Friday 23 June 2023), an off-duty officer observed the man travelling in an allegedly stolen Toyota Landcruiser on the New England Highway in East Maitland.
The man was followed to the carpark of Metford Railway Station where he was approached by police.
It will be alleged the man then rammed two police vehicles before rolling the Landcruiser. Two passengers in the vehicle suffered minor injuries.
The man was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station, where he was assessed by paramedics and taken to hospital under police guard for assessment.
On his release from hospital, the man was returned to Maitland Police Station and charged with multiple offences, including multiple counts of domestic violence related incidents, common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stalking and intimidation, taking or detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage or cause actual bodily harm, and reckless grievous bodily harm.
He also faces a number of traffic and other criminal offences, including multiple counts of using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, hindering police in the execution of their duties, multiple accounts of assaulting police, police pursuit, destroying or damaging property, driving while disqualified, multiple counts of dishonestly obtaining property, aggravated breaking and entering, vehicle theft, and reckless driving.
The Maitland man was refused bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Sunday 25 June 2023.
Two male senior constables suffered minor injuries during the arrest.
Investigations are continuing.
