Wayne Russell in Forster court after Taree police chopper search
The man arrested after a large scale police operation involving the chopper and dog unit has appeared in court. Read our exclusive report.
Mid-North Coast
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The man arrested following a large scale police operation through Taree on Wednesday afternoon has appeared in court and police have revealed information about a six-day operation which saw the chopper on hand.
Following his arrest near the Taree train station Wayne Russell was charged with larceny, and two counts of enter enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse.
On Thursday morning another charge of entering enclosed land without lawful excuse was laid, and the 33-year-old appeared in Forster Local Court.
Rumour mill in overdrive
The PolAir chopper was seen flying low over Taree for well over an hour around noon on Wednesday, setting the rumour mill into overdrive.
People took to social media to say somebody had busted out of the Local Court house.
Others posted photos of police cars in their street around the same time with many speculating police were looking for two more people.
Cars were seen on Talawong Drive and in nearby Fisher and Barton Streets in the Bushland Drive area.
Around 6.30pm on Wednesday a NSW Police spokesperson confirmed an arrest was made near the station on Olympia Street and issued the following statement.
“About 12.30pm on Wednesday police from Manning-Great Lakes Police District were conducting high-visibility patrols at a supermarket on Manning Street, Taree, when they allegedly saw a man shoplifting,” the spokesperson said.
“Upon sighting police, the man allegedly fled the scene, and officers initiated a foot pursuit after the man.
“POLAIR and the Police Dog Unit, who were also conducting patrols in the area at the time, assisted the officers and the alleged offender was arrested a short time later near a train station.”
Six-day police operation
Many people questioned why a police helicopter and the dog unit were used to apprehend a shoplifter.
The NSW Police force has confirmed they were already in the area as part of a six-day operation and issued the following statement:
“A six-day PolAir operation that began last Sunday (February 12) is assisting local Police Districts from the Mid North and North Coast in providing patrol support and targeting of a range of crimes including stolen vehicles, anti-social behaviour and prohibited crop cultivation.
“There are no further updates at this time.”
Court appearance
Russell pleaded guilty to larceny and three counts of entering enclosed land not prescribed premises without lawful excuse when he appeared before Magistrate Allison Hawkins at Forster Local Court on Thursday, February 16.
He was refused bail and a sentence assessment report requested.
His matter will return for sentencing on April 5
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