‘No one deserves to be run down’: Community rallies after two men face court over alleged carjacking
The Orara Valley farming community are turning anger and shock into community spirit as they rally to help a man and woman injured in an alleged carjacking.
Coffs Harbour
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An Orara Valley farmer has rallied the rural farming community in response to an alleged carjacking.
“No one deserves to be run down,” livestock producer Eleizer Robinson.
The incident is alleged to have occurred on Eastbank Rd Nana Glen, near Coffs Harbour, on Friday December 6.
Police allege a 66-year-old man was dragged from a vehicle and a 57-year old woman was run over when she tried to stop the car from leaving their property.
Mr Robinson described the injured man and woman as “good people: farmers”.
In a Facebook post he asked the community to put themselves in their shoes.
“All of us are always down in a paddock doing something and it’s terrible,” he said.
Mr Robinson called on the farming community to bring “some Christmas spirit” to the alleged victims by helping out in a working bee this Saturday.
“We’re just sort of rallying around to say that we love you,” he said.
The incident allegedly occurred when police were patrolling Upper Orara Rd, Karangi about 10 minutes west of Coffs Harbour, about 11.20am on Friday when they directed the driver of an SUV to stop.
Police allege driver ignored police and a pursuit was initiated but terminated a short time later due to safety concerns.
About 20 minutes later, emergency services were called to a home on East Bank Rd, Nana Glen, to attend to the man and woman who were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital in a stable condition.
Following extensive inquiries, local police – with assistance from the North Coast DV High Risk Offender Team and both the police chopper and dog unit – arrested 26-year-old Dray Riley in Coffs Harbour later that day.
Riley was taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station where he was charged with 25 offences including two counts of detaining a person to obtain advantage, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, destroying property and three counts of intimidation.
He has also been charged with intentionally choking a person, stealing a car and aggravated robbery in company.
In addition he faces two charges of police pursuit and a number of driving matters.
About 5am on Saturday police arrested a 37-year-old Richard Carey at a home on Arthur Street, Coffs Harbour.
Carey was charged with 14 offences including aggravated robbery in company, using an offensive weapon in company and cause grievous bodily harm and trespass.
He also faces multiple choking, intimidation and assault charges.
The two men have both been refused bail and their matters return to Coffs Harbour Local Court on December 18.
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