57-year-old woman arrested after allegedly assaulting police, releasing dangerous dog

A 57-year-old woman is facing a raft of charges after she allegedly assaulted police and released a dangerous dog following failed negotiations with officers.

A woman has been arrested after an incident involving a dangerous dog.

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WOMAN CHARGED AFTER ASSAULTING POLICE, DANGEROUS DOG SEIZED

July 31, 9.50am: A bizarre incident involving a 57-year-old woman, a dangerous dog, and an hours-long negotiation has ended with an assault on police officers and the seizure of a pit bull.

The North-West woman has been remanded in custody after the incident at Melrose St in East Devonport on Wednesday afternoon.

She will appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Tasmania Police had been asked to assist the Devonport City Council and North West Animal Control Services to help with issuing a warrant for the seizure of an American pit bull dog, which had been identified as dangerous.

It’s alleged the woman refused to surrender the dog and “threatened and verbally abused officers” during the issuing of the warrant, Tasmania Police said.

Specialist resources were deployed and negotiations with the woman are said to have continued for “several hours”.

“During this time, the unrestrained dog was released by the woman and the animal ran off,” Tasmania Police said.

“The woman is then alleged to have assaulted police officers before being arrested without further incident and taken into custody.”

The dog was eventually found and seized by police and Animal Control Services.

Tasmania Police credited members of the public for helping locate the dog by reporting sightings of the pit bull, which “played a key role in its safe recovery”.

The 57-year-old woman is facing charges of assaulting police, abusing and threatening police, and being the owner of a dog that attacks a person.

MAN EXTRADITED TO FACE SEX CRIME CHARGES

July 30: A 20-year-old man has been extradited from Victoria to Tasmania to face serious sexual offence charges linked to alleged incidents in 2022.

Victoria Police arrested the man on Monday under a warrant for two counts of rape and one count of indecent assault. He was remanded in custody and flown to Tasmania on Tuesday by officers from Tasmania Police’s Family and Sexual Crime Division (Western).

Police said the alleged offences occurred in Tasmania when the man was a youth. He is expected to appear in the Launceston Youth Justice Court on Wednesday.

Authorities did not release further details about the case, citing the man’s age at the time of the alleged offending and the nature of the charges.

Tasmania Police has urged anyone with information about sexual abuse to come forward.

“People can report sexual harm directly to police on 131 444, or by visiting a police station,” a police spokesperson said. “You can also report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au.”

Victim-survivors can access specialist support through services based at Arch, with or without making a formal police report. More information is available at arch.tas.gov.au.

Originally published as 57-year-old woman arrested after allegedly assaulting police, releasing dangerous dog