Police link badly injured man with suspicious house fire

Police are treating a suspicious fire last week as a family violence incident after a man was found in nearby bushland with serious injuries.

POLICE are treating a suspicious fire at the Bagot Community last week as a family violence incident after a man was found in nearby bushland with serious injuries.

Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Budge said the 55-year-old’s injuries were “consistent with a serious assault”.

“We are investigating the possibility this (alleged) assault is directly related to the fire and we are treating these events as family violence incidents,” he said.

The man remains in Royal Darwin Hospital in a stable condition and is assisting police with their inquiries.

Anyone with information, video or dashcam footage is urged to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference number 10060486.

Pedestrian cleaned up by street sweeper

PARAMEDICS attended a number of incidents over the weekend on Territory roads, including a strange one involving a pedestrian and a street sweeper.

According to St John NT operations manager Craig Garraway, paramedics were called to the area near McDonalds in the Darwin CBD at 5.30am on Sunday.

“We were advised (the street sweeper) had hit or run over a male person,” Mr Garraway said.

“Paramedics arrived on scene and were unable to find a patient.”

Also over the weekend a 60-year-old man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital after falling off an e-Scooter in Larrakeyah.

“He suffered a head injury there, not a good start to Saturday night for that gentlemen,” Mr Garraway said.

On Sunday afternoon, a collision occurred between a minibus and Holden Commodore on Stuart Hwy opposite the showgrounds.

Ten people were aboard the bus, with six of them taken to hospital.

“Thankfully they were not serious injuries but we did provide treatment and transport so very lucky, it could have been a lot worst that incident,” Mr Garraway said.

House fire wreaks havoc in Bagot community

A HOME in the Bagot community was saved from complete devastation after a fire tore through on Thursday night.

Members from the NT Fire Rescue Service attended the incident at around 8pm, where they found one room on fire.

They extinguished the fire and said it was lucky the premises were unoccupied.

“The extent of the damage was mainly contained to the one bedroom, with the rest of the house sustaining smoke and water damage,” an NTPFES spokesman said.

A crime scene has been established at the property and investigations will continue.

Police call for information after break-ins across Nhulunbuy

NT Police are calling for information following a spate of unlawful entries around Nhulunbuy early on Thursday morning.

Properties that were targeted in the crime spree between midnight and 5am include the supermarket, government offices, two schools and some private homes.

Senior Sergeant Mick Fields said it was disappointing for the area to have had so many break-ins considering positive profile Nhulunbuy had built recently.

“These incidents are very disappointing, especially given the heightened positive profile Nhulunbuy has at the moment around the successful NASA launches,” Mr Fields said.

“We’re asking if anyone saw suspicious activity last night, if they have CCTV or other information, to contact police on 131 444, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or attend the police station in person. Please quote reference 10059680.”

Police appeal to stop life-threatening behaviour

POLICE are working with the Alice Springs community to address rock throwing after an increase in the activity.

Superintendent Tony Deutrom said police were working with stakeholders and community leaders to reduce the behaviour in the town.

“We are aware of an increase of this behaviour and it has to stop before someone is seriously injured or killed,” he said.

“Anyone who is a victim of rock throwing, who sees anyone throwing rocks at vehicles or who has dashcam or CCTV of this activity is urged to report it to police as soon as possible.”

Anyone found guilty of this behaviour towards occupants of vehicles and vessels can face up to four years in prison, under the Criminal Code Act 1983.

Alleged prison escapee caught

A MAN alleged to have escaped from the Darwin prison has been caught by police.

John Scott Thompson was arrested without incident on Wednesday morning at a home in Jingili.

The 30-year-old low-security prisoner allegedly absconded from the Darwin Correctional Facility in Holtze on July 4.

He will be summonsed to face a charge of escaping lawful custody.

John Scott Thompson was arrested after he allegedly absconded from Darwin Correctional Facility last week. Picture: NTPFES

Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Bland thanked members of the public for providing information to assist in locating the offender.

Originally published as Police link badly injured man with suspicious house fire