NSW police charge man over carjacking offences at Tamworth

A man has appeared before court today on nine charges following a string of alleged offences in Tamworth.

About 4.40pm on Wednesday (18 December 2019), police were pursuing a Holden Colorado through Tamworth when, due to its erratic driving, the pursuit was terminated.

Numerous police vehicles from Oxley Police District continued patrolling the area when they noticed a black Holden Captiva allegedly driving dangerously in Edgeroy Street.

Warning devices were activated as police attempted to stop the vehicle.

Officers will allege the Captiva turned and drove directly towards a police vehicle that had to swerve to avoid a collision.

Officers followed the vehicle along Edward Street in South Tamworth where it pulled into Vera Street and crashed into a vehicle that was parked in the driveway of a home.

As a result of the crash both vehicles caught alight.

The driver of the Captiva got out of the car and ran from police allegedly attempting to steal a parked motorcycle. His attempts were unsuccessful, and he then tried to get into a stationary police vehicle.

As police attempted to remove the man from the car, a struggle ensued before officers used OC spray and a taser.

The 37-year-old man was arrested and taken to Tamworth Base Hospital for treatment to non-life-threatening injuries.

Three police officers were injured during the arrest, all were treated at Tamworth Base Hospital and have since been released.

As investigations into the incident got underway at Vera Street, officers were approached by a man and a woman who told police they were threatened by a man with a knife while driving a black Holden Captiva.

The pair complied with the man’s demands and got out of the vehicle as he drove away on Roberts Street, near Woodward Avenue, Tamworth.

They were not harmed.

The 37-year-old man was released from hospital and placed into police custody.

He was taken to Tamworth Police Station and charged with aggravated take/ drive motor vehicle with person in it – armed, drive recklessly or speed manner dangerous, take and drive conveyance without consent of owner, assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty (x3), use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, and aggravated take/ drive motor vehicle with person in it – inflict actual bodily harm.

The man was refused bail to appear before Tamworth Local Court today, where he was refused bail to reappear before the same court on Wednesday 15 January 2020.

/Public Release. View in full here.