Fourth man charged after three pursuits in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle

A fourth person will face court today charged over his alleged role in three separate pursuits across the Lake Macquarie and Newcastle region.

About 12.25am yesterday (Friday 3 April 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were patrolling the Cardiff area, when they spotted a Volkswagen Polo on Main Street, which had allegedly been reported stolen earlier in the week from Valentine.

The vehicle allegedly failed to stop as directed and a police pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued through several streets of Cardiff onto the Newcastle City Bypass, with the car allegedly travelling south in the northbound lanes; the pursuit was then terminated due to safety concerns.

A short time later, the car was spotted on Medcalf Street, Warners Bay, where police initiated a second pursuit. This was terminated a short time later; also due to safety reasons.

Then about 12.40am, police saw the car on Myall Road, Cardiff, and initiated a third pursuit.

The vehicle travelled through several suburbs – including Cardiff, Elermore Vale and Wallsend – before police terminated the pursuit due to safety concerns.

A short time later, officers from Newcastle City Police District were patrolling the area when they observed the car allegedly travelling at speed through the intersection of Walford and Thomas Streets, Wallsend.

The vehicle allegedly ran a red light and collided with a westbound silver Subaru.

No one was injured in the collision.

Four people exited the vehicle and ran from the scene.

Officers from Lake Macquarie and Newcastle City Police Districts, with assistance from the Dog and Mounted Command, established a perimeter and arrested two men – aged 20 and 19 – and a 16-year-old boy.

All three were taken to Waratah Police Station and charged. They remain before the courts.

Following further inquiries, investigators attended a home in Northfolk Street, Cardiff, and arrested a 19-year-old man just after 10pm yesterday.

He was taken to Toronto Police Station, where he was charged with eight offences, including:

  • two counts of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner,
  • two counts of obtain property by deception,
  • receive stolen property, goods in custody suspected of being stolen,
  • possess prohibited drug, and
  • possess housebreaking implements.

The Cardiff man was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Saturday 4 April 2020).

/Public Release. View in full here.