Special Emergency Response Team called in to arrest prolific DV offender in Townsville

A covert operation to take down a man accused of serious offences unfolded during a dramatic arrest in a quiet Townsville suburb involving pellet bullets.

A covert operation to take down a man accused of serious offences unfolded last night in a dramatic arrest involving pellet bullets and ramming down a fence in a quiet suburb.

The offender, who cannot be named to protect his alleged victim, was wanted on severe domestic violence-related offences, including strangulation.

Police claim he’s well known to them and that he has been involved in the criminal network for years.

The Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) were flown into Townsville yesterday to take him into custody with the help of Townsville Tactical Crime.

SERT, which has teams based in Brisbane and Cairns, specialises in responding to high-risk incidents across the state.

It’s understood the man was known to not come quietly based on previous arrest attempts.

Neighbours reported that police swarmed the house and rammed down his gate in an unmarked police car about 6pm on Tuesday.

It’s understood SERT also distributed rounds of beanbag bullets on the offender.

Townsville Inspector Dean Cavanagh said the strategic planning and implementation of this operation was conducted with the focus on public safety, to take the person in custody without incident.

Police remained at the house – which was not owned by the accused – for a majority of the night, examining evidence and vehicles on the property.

A 30-year-old man was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, choking suffocation strangulation domestic relationship, contravention of a domestic violence order and four counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of possessing tainted property, possessing drug utensils, failing to properly dispose of a syringe, possessing property suspected of having been acquired the purpose of committing a drug offence, driving without a licence, unlawful possession of a weapon, possessing explosives (ammunition) and obstructing police.

He was refused bail and is due to appear in Townsville Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Originally published as Special Emergency Response Team called in to arrest prolific DV offender in Townsville