Man arrested after woman allegedly strangled and punched in Alice Springs

A man is facing multiple charges after a woman was allegedly assaulted and held against her will in Alice Springs.

A man is facing multiple charges after a woman was allegedly assaulted and held against her will in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Welcome to the NT News’ weekly Alice Springs and Central rolling police, crime, traffic, fire and breaking news blog. Keep up with the latest news from Alice Springs right up to the Barkly.

March 22, 10:30am: A 26-year-old man has been charged after allegedly strangling and punching a woman in Alice Springs before preventing her from seeking help.

Northern Territory Police said they received reports around 4.40pm on Friday that a 24-year-old woman had been attacked inside a vehicle at traffic lights on the corner of Stott Tce and the Stuart Hwy earlier that morning.

It is alleged that after the assault, the man took the woman to his residence and stole her phone, preventing her from contacting authorities.

Hours later, she managed to retrieve her phone and report the incident to police.

General duties officers attended the scene and witnessed the man fleeing.

A cordon was set up, and he was arrested after a short foot pursuit.

The woman was transported to Alice Springs Hospital in a stable condition with facial injuries.

The man has been charged with unlawfully causing serious harm, choking or strangling, theft, and breaching bail.

He has been remanded in custody and is set to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Monday.

Alice Springs car crash ends with woman allegedly assaulted by other driver

March 18, 7am: A woman involved in an Alice Springs car crash has been taken to hospital with “minor” injuries after the driver of the other car allegedly assaulted her.

About 7am Tuesday, a crash involving two cars occurred at the intersection of South Tce and Turks Rd.

Following the crash, the 54-year-old woman driver of one of the cars involved was allegedly assaulted by the 40 year-old female driver of the other car.

A spokeswoman for St John NT said police and paramedics responded swiftly to the scene and took the woman to Alice Springs Hospital with “minor” injuries.

Police said the 40-year-old female tested positive for cannabis and was subsequently charged with: aggravated assault; drive motor vehicle unlicensed; drive with prohibited drug in body;

drive unregistered / uninsured; disorderly behaviour in police station; damage property.

Youths arrested in Alice Springs after alleged car break-ins, reckless driving

March 18, 1.30am: Five youths aged between 13 and 15-years-old have been arrested by Northern Territory Police for allegedly stealing two cars and driving dangerously.

About 1.30am Tuesday, police received reports of two stolen cars in the suburb of Gillen, Alice Springs.

It was alleged to police the cars were being driven dangerously and erratically through the town, with a number of youths believed to be occupying both cars.

One of the cars was later found abandoned with a flat tire and was seized by police for forensic testing.

The second car was tracked by a number of police units before it was stopped on Elliott St, Braitling, where five youths aged between 13 and 15-years-old were arrested at the scene.

It is understood the five youths are currently in police custody and will be processed by strike force viper later on Tuesday.

Police say both vehicles will be tested for fingerprints and DNA.

Man rolls car in Alice Springs, taken to hospital in serious condition

March 15, 3.48am:A man was transported to hospital in a serious condition early Saturday after he allegedly rolled his vehicle at high speed in Alice Springs.

About 3.48am, a 23-year-old man, who was alleged to have not been wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash, rolled his vehicle in Braitling, causing him to hit his windscreen.

St John NT responded to the incident shortly later and transported the man to hospital in a serious condition.

It is understood he suffered head injuries as a result of the crash.

‘Disgusting’: Police charge man accused of spitting on officers

March 14, 12pm: A 35-year-old man is on remand awaiting his next court date, where he’ll fight charges of spitting on police and driving dangerously through the Alice Springs CBD.

NT Police said the man was arrested and charged on Wednesday for a string of alleged offending, which included attempting to flee from officers, failing to provide a breath sample, and spitting on the officers, and more.

The man allegedly spat on the officers when they tried to get him to do a breath analysis, after they’d stopped a Holden Cruze driving erratically in the Alice Springs CBD, police said.

NT Police superintendent Peter Dash said “spitting in the face of a member sworn to serve and protect the community is one of the most disgusting acts that can occur”.

“This type of action will not be tolerated and anyone who commits such acts will face the full force of the law,” he said.

The car came to a stop in Tuit Lane, police said, and a the man tried to flee from police before he was caught.

Attempts to obtain a breath sample were unsuccessful, police said, with the man sent to hospital for a blood-alcohol test after he was taken to the watch-house.

A CCTV review also showed the Holden Cruze hitting a parked car, driving on the wrong side of the road, and unable to drive straight, police said.

“At one point, the driver allegedly exited the vehicle and walked across the road forcing ongoing traffic to take action to avoid him,” police said in a statement.

The car was also supposed to be fitted with an alcohol interlock device but was not, police said.

Police allege the 35-year-old is the driver of the vehicle, and further allege he did not have the necessary license for the interlock.

He has been charged with: resisting police; spitting on an officer; driving drunk; failing to comply with directions at an RBT; driving while not under an interlock licence; not assisting after a crash; failing to report a crash; careless driving; and walking without due care on the road.

He has been remanded in custody and will appear in court April 11, police said.

Tennant Creek police investigating theft of 3 guns from social club

March 13, 2pm: Multiple firearms have been stolen from a Tennant Creek property, with authorities appealing for help to recover the weapons.

At about 9.50am on Thursday, NT Police received reports of a burglary which occurred at a social club on Peko Road, Tennant Creek.

It is unknown when the break-in occurred as the club was unattended for the past two weeks.

A worker returned to the premises on Thursday to find the building had been broken into, with the gun safe forced open.

Three firearms had been stolen.

Tennant Creek Criminal Investigation Branch are investigating the situation and are working to identify the circumstances of the incidents.

Members from the forensic science branch have also analysed the crime scene.

Anyone with information is urged to contact authorities on 131 444 and reference job number P25070028.

WATCH: 19yo arrested in bushes after allegedly stealing car in Red Centre

March 11, 3.30pm: Police have released a video showing the moment a 19-year-old is arrested after a stolen car has been brought to a stop in the NT – but cops haven’t said what happened to the others who also fled the car.

Police said a 19-year-old was arrested in bushland behind Nelson Tce in Alice Springs in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

He was arrested after a co-ordinated response – featuring the tactical response group, the Territory safety division, the dog squad, and southern investigations – tracked him in the bushland, police said.

He had fled from a Toyota HiLux after its tyres were spiked, police said.

Police said the HiLux was stolen from a home during an aggravated burglary on Youl Crt in Larapinta earlier, with police sighting the ute 15 minutes after the report come in, they said.

Police believe the arrested 19-year-old was the driver of vehicle.

He was been charged with aggravated burglary dwelling, driving a motor vehicle without consent, driving an unregistered motor vehicle, driving without L plates, and not having a qualified driver in the front seat while being a learner driver.

He made his first appearance in court on Tuesday.

Alice Springs Division Superintendent Michael Budge commended the officers involved in the arrest.

“Our members rapidly deployed and their outstanding collaborative work prevented the offenders from causing any further harm to members of the community on our roads,” he said.

Two other people exited the car when police stopped it, however police did not say if they had been located.

Anyone with more information is urged police on 131 444 and quote reference P25067648.

Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Teen arrested after alleged Alice Springs crime spree

March 10, 11:37am: A 16-year-old boy has been arrested following an alleged break-in in Alice Springs that led to stolen vehicles, property damage, and a police car being rammed.

Police say a home on Burke Street, East Side, was allegedly broken into on Friday night, with car keys reported stolen.

In the early hours of Sunday morning, the offenders are believed to have returned to the property and taken two vehicles, which were later used in a series of crimes, including ramming a police car.

Officers from Southern Investigations and Strike Force Viper tracked down and arrested the teenager in connection with the initial burglary.

He has been charged with aggravated burglary, damage to property, theft, and breaching bail and is expected to appear in court on Monday.

Investigations are ongoing to identify other suspects involved.

Anyone with information is urged to contact NT Police on 131 444 and quote reference NTP2500025063.

Anonymous reports can be made via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Primary school broken into, windows smashed

March 10, 7am: An Alice Springs school has been left to pick up the pieces after it was busted into overnight.

At about 9.30pm on Sunday, police received a call from a member of the public who reported Larapinta Primary School had been broken into after noticing suspicious activity from the area.

When authorities arrived, the offenders had already left the premises.

Officers discovered three doors to at least three separate rooms had sustained damage, with one room successfully broken into by the offenders.

Three iPads were also found scattered on the school grounds during an initial search of the area.

Investigations remain ongoing.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact 131 444 and quote reference number P25066655.

“Reckless, disgusting and cowardly:” Officer injured after police car rammed

March 9, 8:52am: Police have hit out at the “reckless, disgusting and cowardly” behaviour of a group of youths involved in a number of overnight incidents in Alice Springs on Sunday.

A police officer was injured and treated at Alice Springs Hospital after the stationary vehicle in which he was sitting was deliberately rammed by a stolen Toyota HiLux.

The Northern Territory Police force’s Strike Force Viper will investigate the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A Northern Territory Police vehicle in Alice Springs. Picture: Gera Kazakov.

Police said that at about 3.50am on Sunday the offenders allegedly stole a white Amorak and a white HiLux with registration ARW, before they unlawfully attended a residence in Braitling, where they threatened the owner with a blunt weapon before stealing alcohol and leaving the premises.

Shortly after, the offenders attempted to enter a licensed premises on Palm Circuit before leaving the venue.

As police were responding, the stolen HiLux allegedly accelerated towards a stationary police vehicle on Ross Highway, ramming it and once again fleeing the scene.

The impact of the collision was significant, resulting in a male police officer suffering an injured hand and likely concussion.

The stolen HiLux involved in the ramming remains outstanding. The injured officer was treated by St Johns Ambulance and later reviewed by Alice Springs Hospital, prior to release this morning.

The police operation continued with the stolen Amarok successfully tire spiked on Bloomfield Street, with eight to 10 youths fleeing the vehicle.

Commander James Gray-Spence said a full police investigation was now under way.

“Strike Force Viper detectives will investigate these incidents, identify the offenders and take those responsible into custody,” he said. “The offenders conduct is reckless, disgusting and cowardly.

“Thank you to the police officers who responded to these scenes overnight with extreme professionalism and dedication to duty, putting yourselves in harms way to protect the community.”

Police urge anyone who witnessed the incident to contact police on 131 444 or in an emergency dial triple-0. Anonymous reports can be made through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or through https://crimestoppersnt.com.au/.