Newcastle: Man and woman charged over police assaults, other officers allegedly threatened with knife
Newcastle police officers have endured a tough 24 hours with the alleged assaults of three officers in Shortland, while in a separate incident police have allegedly had a knife pulled on them.
Newcastle
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In another shocking video of life on the beat, two Newcastle police officers have been confronted by a man wielding a knife as they drove up to investigate a brawl in Hamilton South on Tuesday afternoon.
In the scary scenario, which played out on Fowler St, Mitchell Randell, 28, approached the driver’s side window of the police vehicle when it had stopped, armed with a large knife.
“Get on the f**king ground, get on the ground, f**k off,” yelled one officer, all captured on body worn video.
The video shows the officers frantically calling for backup as an angry mob of about 50 people came towards them, yelling for them to get off Randell who was quickly placed on the ground and arrested.
“Get back, get back, or I’ll spray you,” screamed one of the officers.
As backup quickly arrived, one officer is heard saying, “he came at us with a knife, I thought I was going to die”.
During the arrest, a second man, approached the officers and attempted to intervene saying, “f**king hell, he’s done nothing, he hasn’t got a knife, you f**king idiot”.
Christopher Pyne, 35, ignored repeated requests to move back and became increasingly aggressive before police deployed OC spray to subdue and arrest him also.
Randell was charged with using an offensive weapon with intent to commit indictable offence, while Pyne was charged with affray and hinder police.
Both pleaded guilty to all charges in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
Due to his poor criminal history, Pyne was slapped with a 10 month intensive corrections order (ICO) and ordered to comply with any drug and alcohol rehabilitation.
Randell’s matter was adjourned until next month and he was bail refused.
In a separate incident, three Newcastle officers have allegedly been kicked and spat on by a couple after a family dispute at Shortland at around 4pm on Tuesday.
Police allege in court documents Matt Thomas, 30, and partner Carley Melmeth, 35, became abusive, aggressive, and made derogatory comments towards police when they were asked to leave.
Thomas’ behaviour escalated before he grabbed hold of one of the officers and repeatedly kicked towards police and lashed out as they tried to arrest him.
Police could only get him under control when they used OC spray to subdue him.
During the arrest police allege Melmeth also attempted to interfere, spitting, pushing and kicking officers before she tried to steal one of the officers handcuffs.
She too had to be subdued with OC spray.
Both were both charged with two counts of assaulting police and two counts of resisting police.
In Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday Thomas pleaded guilty to the charges and received a 21 month ICO.
Melmeth has not yet made a plea. She was granted conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court next month.
The three officers sustained minor injuries including abrasions to their knees and hands, and some swelling.
All officers were affected by the OC spray.