A passenger who allegedly fled from police has been arrested and charged after three officers were assaulted, one of them suffering a fractured eye socket, in the Hunter region last night.
About 8.40pm (Sunday 21 June 2020), an officer from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a Ford hatchback on Trevor Street, Telarah, after it was allegedly driving dangerously.
Police will allege two men, the driver and a passenger, got out of the car and approached the officer as he was walking towards them.
The driver, a 20-year-old man, allegedly pushed the male officer. As the sergeant tried to arrest the man, the passenger inserted himself between the men.
The driver then allegedly punched the officer to the face, before both men allegedly 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. The driver allegedly punched a constable 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 arrested and charged. He remains before the courts.
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.
Following further inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Ada Street, Telarah, just after 3pm today (Monday 22 June 2020).
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, resist officer in execution of duty and escape police custody.
The man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 23 June 2020).
