NT Police investigate sexual assault in Darwin CBD
Police are searching for a man after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in Darwin’s CBD. Read the latest.
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Welcome to the NT News’ weekly Top End rolling police, crime, traffic, fire and breaking news blog. Keep up with the latest in the Top End – from Katherine to Darwin, West Daly, West Arnhem and the Tiwi Islands.
October 18, 6am: Police are searching for a man after he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in Darwin’s CBD.
Northern Watch Commander Steve Rankin said a crime scene had been opened and closed following the incident at 10.30pm Thursday.
Sergeant Rankin said the outstanding offender was yet to be identified.
In a separate incident, Sergeant Rankin said five people tried to carjack a vehicle in Katherine about 10.45pm.
He said the group approached the vehicle in a McDonald’s carpark and smashed the passenger window with a machete.
Sergeant Rankin said the car’s driver managed to drive the vehicle away safely.
He said the incident had been captured on CCTV and police were working to identify the group, who had been wearing hoodies and gloves to hide their identities.
Hells Angels vest, drugs and gun seized in Darwin bikie raids
October 17, 7pm: Drugs, a gun and other weaponry were seized during coordinated Top End police arrests of six men alleged to be members of an Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
NT Police arrested the six men alleged to be related to the large scale supply of drugs across the Territory as part of Operation Kint.
The operation was launched in May 2024 to specifically target known commercial suppliers and distributors of illicit substances.
Since its launch, investigators have been gathering evidence and identifying members from a known Outlaw Motorcycle Gang who have had significant influence on the Greater Darwin drug trade.
Investigators arrested two men, aged 48 and 56, outside a hotel in Darwin on Wednesday.
Police allege the 48 year old was allegedly in possession of $201,000 in cash while the other had just transported 31kg of cannabis from Melbourne to be distributed.
These arrests prompted investigators to immediately execute eight separate search and seizure warrants across the Greater Darwin Area.
As a result of these searches, including the hotel arrest operation, police have seized $447,430 cash, 35.5kg of cannabis, trafficable and less than trafficable quantities of methamphetamine.
Police also seized three vehicles, a substance believed to be commercial MDMA, an unsecured firearm, nun chucks, knuckle dusters and an extendible baton and five ice pipes as well as an encrypted communication device.
A further four men, aged 33, 50, 51 and 54, were arrested during the searches.
All six men have since been charged with possess / supply commercial quantity schedule 2 dangerous drug and possess / use tainted property.
All were remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on Thursday, however it was unclear if their matters were indeed heard.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Tim Gardiner said tracking down the men was a direct result of hundreds of hours of police work.
“These arrests have significantly disrupted the illicit drug trade across Darwin and are the direct result of hundreds of hours of comprehensive police work,” he said.
“Drug syndicates, with influences from Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, cause untold harm throughout our community.
“They fuel crime and financially cripple vulnerable members of the Territory, while having a complete disregard for the impacts of their actions.
“Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs are not welcome here, and members should be aware that any attempt to operate an organised crime network will be disrupted by the NT Police.”
Territory police officer charged with drink driving
October 16, 5pm: A 54-year-old police officer has been issued a Notice to Appear for a mid-range drink driving offence that occurred on Tuesday in Katherine.
Police said the information was shared in accordance with the department’s Transparency Guidelines.
As a result of this incident, the unnamed officer has been suspended from duty with pay and is scheduled to appear before Katherine Local Court on October 23.
Two NT men arrested after ‘deplorable’ child abuse material discovered
October 16, 6am: The Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team has charged two Top End men with separate child exploitation material offences.
Search warrants were undertaken on separate residences in Palmerston and Karama, with multiple electronic devices seized for further analysis, last week.
Police arrested a 32-year-old man in Palmerston on October 9 and he has been charged with gross indecency with a child under 14.
He was also charged with producing child abuse material, possessing child abuse material and destroying evidence.
He has been remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on December 4.
Meanwhile, a 26-year-old man was arrested on October 11 in Karama and has been charged with two counts of transmitting child abuse material.
He is also facing three counts of possessing of controlling child abuse material and one count of transmitting indecent communication to a child.
He was remanded to appear in Darwin Local Court on December 17.
Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Sarah Firth said this sort of alleged offending was “deplorable”.
“The protection of children remains a priority for NT Police,” she said.
“Anyone participating in these crimes should know their behaviour is deplorable, and sooner or later our dedicated team will catch you.”
Australian Federal Police superintendent Greg Davis said the AFP was committed to protecting children wherever they lived.
“Anyone who views this material is committing a crime and contributing to the harm of children,” Mr Davis.
“Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted.
“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.”
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or https://crimestoppers.com.au/
Paramedic rushed to hospital after smashed windshield glass struck face
October 15, 6am: A paramedic was rushed to hospital after a group of children smashed an ambulance windshield, causing fragments of glass to strike their face and eyes.
Northern Watch Commander Tim Healey said a group of four to six children broke into a Katherine service station about 2am Tuesday.
Sergeant Healey said the group allegedly threatened staff and stole cash from the till before fleeing the scene.
He alleged the group picked up rocks on their way out and threw them at an ambulance parked outside the service station.
Sergeant Healey said the paramedic attended the Katherine Hospital for treatment but there seemed to be no serious damage to their eyes.
He said the group of offenders had not been found as of 6am but investigations were ongoing.
Teenager arrested following Katherine crime spree
October 14, 3.09pm: A 15 year-old has boy been arrested following a shocking crime spree in Katherine last week.
At about 11.20pm on Thursday, police received reports a service station on Katherine Terrace had allegedly been broken into by three men who threatened staff with a machete.
The service station cash register was stolen, along with an e-scooter.
It is alleged the offenders unlawfully entered three separate commercial locations along the Victorian Highway, allegedly stealing a Toyota Hilux.
A short time later, the group allegedly threatened a female employee with an edged weapon at O’Shea Terrace premises, before stealing her Holden.
Police allege the Hilux and Holden were used to block a Mitsubishi Triton, before the group allegedly threatened the driver and stealing the vehicle.
Police have since arrested and charged a 15 year-old boy who has been remanded in custody.
Investigations into the alleged co-offenders remain ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact 131 444 and quote reference NTP2400102176.
Top End man with dementia missing, search underway
October 14, 1.37pm: NT Police are searching for a 73-year-old man with dementia, who is believed to have wandered from his residence overnight.
It is understood John, also known as Jack, walked away from his property on Strickland Road, Adelaide River sometime between 11pm Sunday and 8am Monday.
John is described as being of caucasian appearance, slim build, with grey hair and a beard.
He suffers from dementia and type two diabetes and his family hold concerns for his welfare.
Search and Rescue section continues to search for John.
Anyone with information is urged to contact 131 444 and quote reference P24283763.
Driver taken to hospital after commute crash
October 14, 12pm: A driver has been taken to hospital after a morning commute ended in a single vehicle crash near a major thoroughfare.
An NT Police spokesman said the driver suffered minor injuries after the crash about 5km outbound from the Stuart Hwy on Jenkins Rd at 7.50am Monday.
“St John Ambulance arrived on scene and treated the driver who returned a negative breath and drug test,” the spokesman said.
“Police are investigating the exact cause of the crash.”
Man charged after alleged DV attack, bail breach
October 14, 10.30am: A 23-year-old man has been arrested in relation to an alleged domestic violence incident in Nhulunbuy.
An NT Police spokesperson said the man turned himself in to the Nhulunbuy Police Station on Thursday after a warrant was issued for him.
The spokesperson said the man was charged with breaching bail and violating a DVO.
They said the man was due to appear in the Darwin Local Court on Monday.
Peter Dutton to speak with Territory bigwigs in Alice Springs visit
The Federal Opposition leader has landed in the Northern Territory, where he’ll meet with the Chief Minister, an NT Senator, and more in the troubled Red Centre capital.
‘Grotesque’ assault of sleeping woman exposes Darwin ‘horrors’
‘You can only imagine the horrors’: Man jailed after CCTV captures his sick assault on a vulnerable, unconscious woman in Darwin city. WARNING: Distressing content.