Alice Springs crime: Man, 30, charged after allegedly fleeing police custody

A man who allegedly fled police custody has been charged | Investigations are ongoing after cars were destroyed and more than 60 people were armed with weapons | and more Alice Springs news.

A man who allegedly fled police custody late Thursday has been charged. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Welcome to the NT News’ weekly Alice Springs and Central rolling police, crime, traffic, fire and breaking news blog. Keep up with the latest news from Alice Springs right up to the Barkly.

June 27:A man who allegedly fled police custody late Thursday has been charged.

Northern Territory Police allege the incident began at 9.30pm Thursday when the man, 30, was arrested at a casino on Barrett Drive, Alice Springs, for engaging in disorderly behaviour and drinking in a public place.

As he was being walked to the police car, police allege two men aged 32 and 34 began “harassing” the officer who was maintaining custody of the 30-year-old.

The man escaped and he fled into the Todd River where he evaded arrest attempts.

Additional units attended and a cordon was later established.

The man was re-arrested without incident at 10.20pm Thursday, police said.

The man has since been charged with escape from custody, disorderly behaviour in a public place and nuisance public drinking.

He was bailed to appear in court on July 29.

The 32 and 34-year-old men were taken into protective custody.

Anyone who witnesses crime or antisocial behaviour is urged to contact police on 131 444.

Investigations ongoing after two cars allegedly set on fire, 60 people armed with weapons

June 27: Investigations remain ongoing for an incident in Willowra that allegedly left two cars destroyed and more than 60 people armed with weapons.

Northern Territory Police said it received reports of the alleged disturbance at about 5pm Thursday.

Police alleged up to 60 people were armed with various weapons and that the two vehicles were “deliberately” set on fire.

Ti-Tree Police were deployed, NT Police said, and the group dispersed.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to make contact on 131 444.

Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stopper on 1800 333 000.

Call for information after women suffer head injuries in CBD brawl

June 27, 11am: Police are calling for witnesses to an Alice Springs brawl that left two women in hospital with head injuries.

At 4.05pm, the triple-0 call centre received a report of a disturbance happening in a shopping centre on Bath St, in the CBD.

It was alleged a fight broke out between multiple parties, leaving an 18-year-old and a 36-year-old woman with injuries.

Another pair of women, aged 20 and 32, had allegedly assaulted the victims with blunt weapons.

The alleged offenders fled the scene in a black Holden Captiva with NT registration CF9 5KG and remain on the run.

The two victims were taken to Alice Springs Hospital for treatment for head wounds.

Investigations are ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference P25171368.

Man in serious condition after Ashwin St house fire

June 26, 8.30am: A man who was pulled from a house fire in Alice Springs has been taken to hospital in a serious condition.

St John NT said units responded to the fire on Ashwin St, Alice Springs, after 7am Thursday.

Paramedics removed the man from his home and took him to hospital in a serious condition, a St John spokesman said.

Traffic diversions are currently in place.

Firefighters were still responding to the blaze at the time of writing, and members of the public were urged to avoid the area.

An NTFRS spokesman said residents and those who are in the area for work should stay inside with their windows and doors closed where possible, and they should avoid any outdoor activities.

An NTFRS fire investigator and NT Police are working to determine the cause of the fire.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444.

Teen arrested after allegedly assaulting four women in Alice Springs

June 25, 11am: Alice Springs police have arrested a teenage boy in connection to a string of alleged indecent assaults on four women.

Police said the teen, aged 14, was arrested at a house in Gillen on Wednesday, and was expected to be charged later in the day.

The teen was arrested in connection to an indecent assault on the Todd River on June 20, police said.

It is alleged a woman was jogging along the river when she was assaulted by a male riding a bike.

Three more women then contacted police after the first assault was reported.

They alleged similar assaults which also along the Todd River.

In a statement, NT police said they expected to charge the teen with three counts of indecent touching or act, and one count of gross indecency without consent.

Anyone with more information is urged to contact police on 131 444 and quote reference number NTP2500062998.

Anonymous reports can also be made to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Drone tracks kids after brazenly stealing Power and Water car from hotel

June 25, 6.30am: Six children who tried to flee after their stolen car was stopped by police were snagged by police using a drone to track their movements.

Southern Watch Commander Jared Thompson said the keys to the government owned Power and Water vehicle were stolen from a hotel room at Lasseters Casino about 7.40pm on June 24.

The vehicle was seen entering Alice Springs CBD in the early hours of Wednesday, with police deploying a tyre deflation device about 3am.

Commander Thompson said the intervention was “successful” and the vehicle was forced to stop.

He said six children spilled out of the vehicle and tried to flee the scene.

But a police drone tracked the alleged offenders, with the group – comprised of boys and girls aged between 13 and 17 – arrested “within minutes”, Commander Thompson said.

The six are expected to be dealt with under the Youth Justice Act.

Two break-ins in Braitling, one successful and the other a failure

June 23, 7am: NT Police are on the hunt for a gang of burglars who broke into two Braitling homes early on Monday morning, stealing a Toyota Camry.

Southern Watch Commander Jared Thompson said the first attempt about midnight failed for the would be intruders when the homeowners scared the group off.

Two hours later, at a property a few doors down, what police believe to be the same group broke into another Braitling residence and stole a Toyota Camry, according to police.

That vehicle was recovered about 5am in a different Alice Springs suburb.

Commander Thompson said the two incidents were “definitely connected”, with police still on the look out for three to four suspects.

No reference number was given to this masthead.

Originally published as Alice Springs crime: Man, 30, charged after allegedly fleeing police custody