Wanted Kempsey man allegedly punches cop with machete strapped to his leg, charged for 18 offences

A West Kempsey man has been arrested following a manhunt – but not before he allegedly resisted police attempts to take him into custody. See what allegedly happened here.

A West Kempsey man has allegedly punched a cop in the head while carrying a machete strapped to his leg.

Police said officers were travelling through West Kempsey looking for a wanted 25-year-old man about noon yesterday, after receiving reports he was in the area.

Officers approached him when they saw the man exit a stopped vehicle on Leith Street, police said.

The man was taken to Kempsey Police Station.

Police allege they were met with resistance, with one of the officers suffering a blow to the head, before capsicum spray was used and the man was able to be restrained.

Police then searched the man and allegedly located the machete strapped to his leg.

The man was taken to Kempsey Police Station where he was charged with three outstanding warrants, as well as a range of additional offences including three outstanding warrants; two counts of car theft; two counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception; two counts of armed with intent to commit an indictable offence; and one count each of aggravated break and enter and commit a serious indictable offence with other people present, police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, never licensed person drive vehicle on road, common assault, aggravated break and enter with intent armed, receive property-theft serious indictable offence, assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty and carry cutting weapon upon apprehension.

The man will reappear at Kempsey Local Court later this year.

Police will allege in court that some of the charges relate to a number of incidents from earlier this month.

They include the alleged burglary of a home on Oceanview Terrace, Port Macquarie, about 2.40am on August 1 where credit cards, mobile phones and two vehicles were stolen from the premises.

The credit cards were allegedly used to make a number of unauthorised transactions.

Two days later, police allege a home in Boronia Street, Sawtell, was broken into and a vehicle stolen.

Police will allege the car was involved in a pursuit a short time later before the chase was stopped because of safety reasons.

The vehicle was later found abandoned on Euroka Road, South Kempsey.

Then on Sunday, police allege a home on Naiooka Street, South Kempsey, was broken into about 8.45pm and the occupants were threatened with a machete and a vehicle stolen from the home.

The man was refused bail in Kempsey Local Court to reappear on October 19.

Investigations into the incidents are continuing and anyone with information should contact Port Macquarie Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.