Three officers have been assaulted – one sustaining a fractured eye socket – after a vehicle stop in Maitland overnight.
About 8.40pm (Sunday 21 June 2020), an officer attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a silver Ford hatchback on Trevor Street in Telarah after it was observed driving in a dangerous manner.
Police will allege one male exited the vehicle and walked towards the Sergeant, attempting to block his vision of the car.
At this time, the officer observed another male exit from the driver’s side of the vehicle before he began acting erratically and allegedly pushed the officer in the chest.
As the officer attempted to arrest the driver, the second male allegedly inserted himself between the two men. The driver then allegedly punched the officer to the left side of his face, impacting with his eye.
Both men then fled the scene on foot.
Shortly after, the driver was sighted at a nearby railway corridor trying to jump a fence when two officers attempted to restrain him. During the melee, the driver allegedly punched a Constable in the neck and shoulder area multiple times before jumping over the fence.
A Senior Constable followed him over the fence and was also allegedly punched before the 20-year-old man was eventually restrained and arrested.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with driving without a licence, drive vehicle under influence of alcohol, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, escape police custody, two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, and two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm
The Curlewis man was refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today (Monday 22 June 2020).
Two female occupants of the Ford are assisting police with inquiries, while the male occupant remains outstanding.
The Sergeant was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment for a fractured eye socket. The two other officers were treated for minor lacerations and soft tissue damage at Maitland Hospital. All have since been discharged.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
