Police locate four out of five youths who absconded from Saltbush facility

Four out of five youths who allegedly escaped from the Saltbush accommodation facility by cutting off their electronic monitoring devices have been located.

UPDATE DEC 28: FOUR out of five youths who allegedly escaped from the Saltbush accommodation facility by cutting off their electronic monitoring devices have been located.

Police tracked them to locations in Alice Springs two days after the youths absconded from the bail support facility.

The alleged escapees are males aged 13-15 years, police say.

Strike Force Viper had been conducting inquiries to locate the youths.

One male is still outstanding.

UPDATE DEC 27: POLICE are still searching for four youths who escaped from the Saltbush accommodation facility in Alice Springs.

A NT PFES spokesman said one of the five children who left the bail support facility had been found, leaving four still at large.

Police alleged the group escaped after breaking off their electronic monitoring devices and leaving the centre around 4.45am on Boxing Day.

Earlier police said Strike Force Viper officers were searching for the remaining escapees.

In 2018 Territory Families revealed 40 per cent of bailees at the centre had gone AWOL during their stay at the facility.

EARLIER DEC 26: FIVE youths on bail have absconded from the Saltbush accommodation facility in Alice Springs after allegedly breaking off their electronic monitoring devices.

Saltbush staff alerted police the youths had decamped the accommodation around 4.45am on Boxing Day.

All five youths are outstanding.

Strike Force Viper is conducting inquiries to locate the youths.

Saltbush offers alternative accommodation to remanding youths in custody.

Woman seriously injured in alleged stabbing

A WOMAN was left bleeding in a Palmerston home in an alleged domestic violence stabbing that resulted in serious injuries.

Police have arrested a 43-year-old man after a woman was allegedly assaulted with an edge weapon in a Grey home on Christmas Eve.

Police allege just before midnight a 41-year-old woman was stabbed in the neck, and later taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with serious injuries.

“This was a horrific incident and if the woman hadn’t received medical treatment when she did, she would have likely died,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Michael Budge said.

Police said by Christmas Day the woman’s condition had stabilised.

It will be alleged her partner, the 43-year-old, fled the scene before police arrived.

He was arrested this morning and taken to Palmerston Watch House.

Members from the Domestic and Family Violence section are investigating the matter.

Police said the man was expected to be charged on Christmas Day.

Police investigating suspicious Alice Springs blaze

POLICE are investigating a suspicious fire which engulfed a vehicle and a carport in Alice Springs.

Northern Territory Police are calling for information in relation to a suspicious vehicle fire in the Larapinta area on Christmas Eve.

Officers received reports of a vehicle fire at a residential address on Lyndavale Dr at 5am.

Emergency services arrived to find the blaze had already destroyed the vehicle and caused damage to the carport.

Police have urged anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious persons or who had CCTV footage of the incident to contact them on 131 444, quoting the reference number 9882970.

Witnesses can report the information anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Children arrested in alleged stolen joyride

FOUR children have landed on the Territory Police’s naughty list after allegedly joyriding a stolen car right before Christmas.

Northern Territory Police arrested four youths after a Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen from a Karama home on Bloodwood Circuit at 4.20pm on Thursday.

The vehicle was later spotted by CCTV operators at a service station in Karama before driving through the northern suburbs towards Jingili.

Police allegedly saw the stolen car stopping on Rindberg St at 4.50pm, before four youths fled from the scene.

Strike Force Trident detectives and the Dog Operations Unit arrested two youths on Rindberg St with the remaining two youths arrested shortly after on Borella Circuit.

Two 14-year-old and two 13-year-old were arrested.

A 14-year-old was charged with aggravated unlawful use of motor vehicle and will appear in Darwin Local Court on Friday.

Another 14-year-old was charged with aggravated unlawful use of motor vehicle, unlicensed and dangerous driving.

The teenager was also charged in relation to an unlawful entry at a Marrara.

He was bailed to appear in court on January 10.

The two 13-year-olds were charged with aggravated unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

One appeared in court on Friday, while the other was bailed to appear in court on January 10.

Alice Springs police arrest man following street scuffle

A MAN allegedly involved in a street scuffle in Alice Springs has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault.

Northern Territory Police arrested a 39-year-old man on Thursday following an investigation into the alleged Gap Rd assault.

Police said officers received reports that a man had been assaulted by another man on Friday December 17.

Police allege the man tried to intervene in the dispute when he was assaulted by the 39-year-old.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Glenn Bolger said members of the public were crucial in helping police secure the arrest.

“Police would like to thank the members of the public for their assistance in this investigation as the information they provided was vital in identifying the alleged offender,” Sgt Bolger said

The 39-year-old man was charged with aggravated assault, stealing and being armed with an offensive weapon.

He was remanded to appear in Alice Springs Local Court on Friday.

Child protection raids arrest of two men

TWO men face serious child abuse charges following raids in remote communities.

NT Police arrested 41-year-old and a 39-year-old were arrested on Wednesday following two separate police searches.

Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team detectives searched the phone of the 41-year-old man on a remote island community.

Police allege they found child abuse material on his mobile phone, and he was charged to appear in Darwin Local Court on December 24.

In a separate arrest the 39-year-old man from East Arnhem Land was issued a Notice to Appear after search warrants on his home allegedly located several electronic devices storing child abuse material.

He faces accusations of accessing and possessing child abuse material and is due to appear in court at a later date.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Jon Beer said there was “nothing benign” about possessing images of exploited children, and those who broke the law would be pursued.

“The JACET team will remain relentless in pursuing and holding to account perpetrators of child exploitation,” Stg Beer said.

Guns, cash, 100kg of drugs seized in major Top End busts

STOLEN firearms, $200,000 cash and over 100kg of drugs were allegedly seized in three drug raids sweeping the Top End.

NT Police have revealed details about three search warrants at Humpty Doo, Rosebery and Herbert on Tuesday.

Police said two men, a 28-year-old and a 25-year-old, were arrested following the simultaneous raids in Rosebery and Herbert.

“These arrests have been the result of extensive work by the Drug and Organised Section and have resulted in upwards of 100kg of illicit substances removed from our community,” Detective Senior Sergeant Wayne Newell said.

Police allege the 28-year-old was found with items indicative of drug supply at Rosebery.

He was charged with three counts of supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 2 dangerous drug, supplying less than a commercial quantity of a schedule 1 dangerous drug, possessing less than a trafficable amount of a schedule 1 dangerous drug and possessing cannabis.

He was also charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, possessing ammunition without a licence, receiving and unlawfully possessing property.

The 28-year-old was remanded to appear at Darwin Local Court on February 2.

Police allege in a related bust a 25-year-old man was found with items indicative of drug supply and quantity of ammunition in a Herbert home.

He was arrested and has been charged with supplying and possessing a commercial quantity of a schedule 1 drug, unauthorised possession of schedule 8 substance, possessing a thing to administer drugs, and possessing ammunition without a licence.

He was remanded to appear before Darwin Local Court on December 29.

A 31-year-old man was arrested in an unrelated raid on a Humpty Doo home.

Police allegedly seized $200,000 in cash, stolen and unregistered firearms along with a trafficable amount of drugs.

The 31-year-old was arrested and charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a schedule 1 dangerous drug, drug possession, possessing stolen property and property received in the commission of an offence, and possessing a thing to administer dangerous drugs.

He was also charged for the unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

He was remanded to appear before Darwin Local Court on February 23.

Sgt Newell said the Humpty Doo raid was part of the drug squad’s tireless efforts to protect the community.

“The supply of these dangerous substances into our community has long term harmful effects to our most vulnerable,” he said.

Nine-year-old girl injured in e-scooter crash in Darwin

A NINE-YEAR-OLD girl was hit by an electric scooter amid Darwin’s Christmas chaos.

St John Ambulance NT operations manager Craig Garraway said a nine-year-old girl was hit by an e-scooter on the footpath in Darwin’s CBD on Wednesday.

Mr Garraway said paramedics treated the girl who was left with some minor scratches and bruises.

“Just a timely reminders that there’s a lot of people out and about, especially in the city so take care on those e-scooters,” he said.

Police after information on Alice Springs robbery

UPDATE: NT Police are calling for information after a 53-year-old man was robbed in Alice Springs on Tuesday afternoon.

At 3.30pm police received a report that the man had been robbed as he walked along Madigan St in Braitling.

Three males, described as being Indigenous and in their 30s, allegedly exited a brown 4WD and threatened the victim with an edged weapon before stealing a number of items and fleeing in a vehicle.

“This incident is still under investigation and police are calling for anyone with information to make contact on 131 444,” Mr Becker said.

“You can make an anonymous report through Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Please quote reference 9880557.”

Police find absconded Corrections prisoner

UPDATE: NT Police have found a Darwin Correctional Centre prisoner who breached his leave permit and left Royal Darwin Hospital on Monday night.

Aaron Thompson was last seen at RDH at 8pm before he was apprehended in Casuarina on Tuesday.

The man was not considered a risk to public safety but people were urged not to approach.

“Serious Crime Detectives apprehended the man a short time ago. Police would like to thank members of the public for their assistance,” Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Brett Cottier said.

50-one-year-old to face court for alleged drink driving

A MAN who was pulled over after being refused entry into a nightclub, bought a kebab then allegedly drove off drunk will face court.

Northern Watch Commander Mick Fields said the 50-year-old was drunk when he was refused entry to the Lost Arc Hotel about 5pm on Sunday.

“CCTV operators captured the man walking down Mitchell St and purchasing a kebab,” Cmdr Fields said.

“The man was later observed to walk back to his vehicle and drive off.”

He said police then pulled the intoxicated driver over on the Stuart Hwy in Winnellie where he returned a BAC reading of 0.152 per cent.

“The man offered his excuse for driving while affected by alcohol of ‘I wanted to get my car back so it didn’t get damage’,” Cmdr Fields said.

Territorians are reminded police will be monitoring the roads and enforcing the traffic rules in strength this festive season.

“Northern Territory Police want all motorists to arrive at their destinations safely and enjoy the festive season with their family and friends,” Cmdr Fields said.

The man will appear before the Darwin Local Court on a high-range drink charge at a later date. 

In Alice Springs, fireys were called to a scene where two vehicles went up in flames in front of a home on Monday about 5.20am.

Southern Watch Commander Andrew Heath said a fire investigator was heading to Ellery Dr in Larapinta where the combusted Toyota HiAce and LandCruiser were located.

“We’re not sure what the cause (of the fire) is yet but a fire investigator was on their way to the scene,” Cmdr Heath said.

“Once we know what the cause of the fire was it will then direct us one what line of inquiry we are going to take.”