NT Police dog bites alleged car thief at BASSINTHEGRASS music festival

A man has been taken to hospital after a police dog was deployed to help arrest the alleged car thief after BASSINTHEGRASS. Find out what happened.

A festival goer who allegedly hijacked and crashed a traffic control vehicle before being chased down by police dogs has been charged with a string of offences.

A 23-year-old was taken to hospital after being stopped by a police dog in the early hours of Sunday morning, following the end of BASSINTHEGRASS.

NT Police Northern Watch Commander Sean Patterson said the 23-year-old man entered the car while its driver was unlocking a trailer and drove away at 12.40am.

“(He) drove recklessly along and narrowly missed a few people who had to jump out of the way before it crashed,” he said.

It is alleged the young man drove the white Toyota Hilux along Maria Liveris Ave at Mindil Beach before crashing into the cement kerbing.

Sergeant Patterson said police were already in the area to look for a child who had allegedly been breaching bail.

“Police were actually in the area looking for another incident and were alerted to the incident,” he said.

“The witnesses have pointed out the offender running away, police have given chase, and it so happens that a Dog Unit was in the area as well.”

Sergeant Patterson said the man was running “quite vigorously” and ignoring directions, so the police dog was sent in to effect the arrest.

Police are calling for witnesses to come forward, particularly if they have mobile phone footage.

He said the man was taken to hospital with minor injuries, including a bite to the leg.

On Monday police confirmed the young man had been charged with dangerous driving, failing to report an accident, not stopping after a crash, resisting police and unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

He is expected to appear before the Darwin Local Court on July 3.

Sergeant Patterson said aside from the stolen car the festival went “really smoothly”.

It comes as police also investigate an unrelated alleged carjacking at Nightcliff on Sunday night.

Police said at 11.25pm a silver Hyundai Accent was stopped by a group of three unknown males at a residence on Litchfield Court, Nightcliff.

The group allegedly threatened the driver and two passengers with a knife.

One of the men allegedly punched one person and took some cash.

The trio then allegedly took off with the car.

Detectives from Strike Force Trident are investigating and are urging anyone with information to come forward, quoting the reference number 10351564.

Man stabbed outside popular Top End night spot

The Territory’s acting police boss says the alleged offender of a stabbing outside a popular Top End pub is known to police but yet to be found.

Deputy Commissioner Michael Murphy said police still did not know the type of weapon involved.

“We know who the offender is,” Deputy Commissioner Murphy said at 10am Friday.

“We’ve got investigators tracking him down to obviously effect an arrest.”

A 23-year-old man was rushed to hospital with a punctured lung following a large disturbance outside the Beachfront Hotel in Rapid Creek on Thursday night.

Northern Watch Commander Sean Patterson said a man became involved in the disturbance with about 10 other people after being removed from the pub about 7.15pm.

NT Police are working to locate the alleged offender in a stabbing outside the Beachfront Hotel in Rapid Creek on Thursday night.

Acting Senior Sergeant Patterson said the man then engaged in an altercation with another man, and was stabbed in the chest with an unknown weapon.

He said the alleged offender then fled the scene prior to emergency services arriving.

He said the man was taken to hospital where he was found to have suffered a punctured lung and investigations were ongoing to locate the alleged offender.

A NT Health spokesman said a 23-year-old man was currently being assessed in the emergency department and was in a stable condition.

NT Police investigating alleged break-in, stolen car in Millner

A stolen car, alleged break-in and attempted unlawful entries could be linked to a single group, police say.

Northern Watch Commander Richard Howie said police received reports a Millner home had been broken into at 11.45pm Tuesday.

Sergeant Howie said the residents were disturbed when a male entered their home, confronted them and fled on foot.

“He was seen by a witness running towards Coconut Grove across Bagot Road with three other persons,” he said.

Sergeant Howie said police also recovered a stolen car near the area they believe was linked to the group.

“We believe it was linked to some other reports of suspicious vehicles and suspicious persons in the area of Nightcliff and Millner and Rapid Creek,” he said.

Sergeant Howie said the group – including a 14-year-old, 16-year-old and two adults – was arrested with help from the dog operations unit and general duties officers.

“We do encourage if anybody believes they might have had an unlawful entry overnight or wakes up this morning to find something missing, then please contact police on 131 444,” Sergeant Howie said.

“We might be able to make some connections to other offending overnight.”

Man in critical condition after being hit by car

A man is in a critical condition after being hit by a car on the Stuart Hwy in Stuart Park on Monday night.

NT Police Northern Watch Commander Richard Howie said a man crossing the Stuart Hwy in Stuart Park was struck by a vehicle heading outbound from Darwin city about 11pm Monday night.

Emergency services attended and the man was conveyed to Royal Darwin Hospital.

An NT Health spokeswoman said the man was in a critical but stable condition at Royal Darwin Hospital at 11am on Tuesday.

Sergeant Howie said road closures were in place on the Stuart Hwy between Burt St and Hassan Pl as the Major Crash Investigation Unit looked into the incident.

The incident took place between Burt St and Hassan Pl on Stuart Highway, which was closed for overnight as investigations took place. Pic: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

An NT police spokesman said the highway had now reopened but members of the Major Crash Investigation Unit were still at the scene looking into the incident.

Man arrested after overnight siege, threatening woman with gun

Police have arrested a man following an hours-long siege during which he allegedly barricaded himself inside a Rural Area property after threatening a woman with a gun.

NT Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Sachin Sharma said the 44-year-old made the threat at an address in Stuart Park about 1pm on Sunday before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

The Territory Response Group, dog squad, negotiators and general duties officers tracked the man to his Virginia Rd home where a cordon was set up and negotiations continued until 2am.

Mr Sharma said officers developed “an action plan to breach the building” before OC spray was deployed into the residence and the man was arrested without incident.

He said by 2pm on Monday a crime scene remained in place at the property, while the firearm the man allegedly used was yet to be found.

As of Monday afternoon, the 44-year-old was undergoing a medical assessment in custody but had not been charged.

Mr Sharma commended the numerous police officers involved in the arrest “whose lengthy negotiations resulted in a safe arrest after what was a high risk situation”.

“If you have witnessed or experienced domestic or family violence please contact police on 131 444 or triple-0 in an emergency,” he said.

“If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800 RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.”

Man charged with assault after festival incident

Police have charged a man after an incident at a community festival in Nightcliff on Saturday night. Picture: Floss Adams.

Members of the public assisted police with an arrest during an unedifying moment at Nightcliff’s Seabreeze festival on Saturday evening.

Police said the victim was assaulted just before 8pm while attending the event with family members.

Police said they were alerted to the incident shortly after it occurred and quickly arrived at the scene.

A 41-year-old man has been taken into custody and charged with aggravated assault. He will appear in court on Monday.

Police thanked the rapid response of family members and the public, who apprehended the man after the incident.

“The community’s safety is NT Police’s top priority and any reports of criminal activity are taken very seriously,” a spokesman said.

The Seabreeze festival returned this year after being cancelled in 2022 and restricted in previous years due to Covid.

Originally published as NT Police dog bites alleged car thief at BASSINTHEGRASS music festival