Jonathan Wesley’s mother Dianne Hewitt speaks out on Nightcliff Gardenia Street siege
A 27-hour suburban siege finally came to a dramatic end after a man who allegedly assaulted a woman was promised ‘tucker’ and ‘a hug’ on Tuesday. Watch footage of how the arrest went down.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A 27-hour suburban siege has finally come to a dramatic end after a man who allegedly assaulted a woman at a Nightcliff home was promised “tucker” and “a hug”.
Jonathan Wesley was arrested outside his mother’s Gardenia St property at about 1.15pm on Tuesday after police first arrived to speak to him at about 10am on Monday.
NT Police Detective Acting Superintendent Matt Akers said the 30-year-old threatened police as he left the house and was tasered and taken into custody without injury.
Shortly before the dramatic and emotional arrest, Wesley’s mother Dianne Hewitt said police had promised her she could bring him food and give him a hug if he left the house.
But her family – including her brother, daughters, and grandkids – watched on as she offered two clear plastic bags of Chinese takeaway to a police officer who turned it down.
“They told me a lie, they told me if I bring tucker, eventually we’d get him down and he could eat,” she said.
“Nothing like that happened, we bought the food for nothing.”
Ms Hewitt said her son was not injured but was very upset by the ordeal.
“He just wanted one more cigarette and that’s it,” she said.
“But he went away in a good way, he didn’t kick, he didn’t run amok, he went in a good way.”
The devastated mother said she wasn’t allowed to give her son a final goodbye.
“I asked everyone if I could give him a hug goodbye to reassure him of my strength,” she said.
“They don’t let you do that.”
Superintendent Akers said Wesley had actively engaged with police throughout the ordeal, who had “responded in accordance with best practice to minimise harm, including to the public, suspects and police“.
“Our priority when dealing with uncooperative individuals is always to take a peaceful, measured approach and that often takes time,” he said.
“The arrest and the alleged incidents prior remain under investigation and anyone with information is urged to contact police on 131 444.”
Superintendent Akers said Wesley had allegedly assaulted a woman he knew about 6pm on Sunday.
He said the woman was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital to receive treatment and had since been discharged.
The Nightcliff address remained cordoned off on Tuesday afternoon as police finalised their investigations.
“He currently remains in police custody and is expected to be charged later today,” Superintendent Akers said.
Mother of man at centre of Nightcliff siege speaks out
The wife and mother of two men holed up in a Nightcliff home surrounded by police for more than 24 hours has spoken out for the first time, saying her son felt he had “been set up”.
Jonathan Wesley’s mother, Dianne Hewitt, told this publication she just wanted to see her family safe, saying she wanted to “encourage my son to walk out” but police had not let her.
“I want to just go talk to my son and they won’t let me,” she said.
“I wanted to calm him down.
“I have been trying to talk to him for several hours but he feels he’s being mistreated, has been set up.”
Officers have surrounded the Gardenia Street address since about 10am on Monday, trying to coax the occupants out without success.
Ms Hewitt said she had not spoken to her son since the siege began.
She said she bought the house on the leafy suburban street 15 years ago and had never seen an issue escalate this way before.
“I was told I could leave and come back but I’m still unable to get into my home to do anything,” she said.
Ms Hewitt said she was also concerned for her husband, who remained in the house with Mr Wesley.
She said she was worried her husband — who is a diabetic — was not being looked after.
Up to 15 police officers remain on the scene as of midday Tuesday, including uniformed cops and plain clothed investigators.
Commotion erupts as Nightcliff siege reaches 24 hour point
Police continue to blockade a suburban Nightcliff street as a standoff between cops and a person inside a home ticks over 24 hours.
Several marked and unmarked police cars were stationed outside a Gardenia St residence on Tuesday morning.
A NT Police spokesman said the officers arrived at the scene around midday on Monday but attempts to resolve the situation had been unsuccessful.
It is understood police are attempting to negotiate the arrest of a person inside a house in Darwin’s leafy northern suburbs.
The crime scene in Nightcliff has left residents in limbo as they wait for news of the unfolding criminal investigation.
Neighbours said a commotion could be heard at about 8am on Monday morning.
One man, standing at the gated entrance to the Nightcliff home, called out to the occupants inside.
“We want you to come down, this is a safe environment,” he said.
As more officers arrived, a voice could be heard from inside the house.
“F*** you,” the voice could be heard to say.
Neighbours were not sure what had happened, and officers on the scene would not comment.
A NT Police spokesman confirmed there had been no injuries, and no active risk to the public.
However he was unsure if the person inside was alone in the home.
But the force refused to provide any details about why the residence was of interest to police.
On Tuesday morning, NT Police Northern Watch Commander Greg Rowe said no arrests had been made in relation to the Gardenia St incident.
The crime scene was established on Monday afternoon, with a number of police cars cordoning off the entrance to the quiet street.
Police members and the dog squad kept watch while their vehicles blocked off half the road as they conducted an arrest.
Nightcliff residents have taken to social media to check in on one another.
“Clearly something tragic has happened,” on Facebook user wrote.
“We as a community really need to stay connected and my thoughts are with all impacted through these circumstances be that family, friends, neighbours, community.”
A neighbour, who did not want to be identified, said it was not the first time police had been called to the street.
“Probably every third night you hear something, every second night,” they said.
“They’re (often) walking along here, fighting, speeding around … they just run amok.
“You hear screaming, you see cops, it is what it is.”
The scene was unfolding on Monday afternoon just a few streets away from Nightcliff Primary School.
Ankle monitors no deterrent for young crims as cafe boss hit twice
Two hospitality venues in Palmerston have been ransacked to the tune of about $20,000, with incredible CCTV stills illustrating at least one devil-may-care youth offender wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet.
Read more
Darwin soldier claims boozy brawl was a ‘preemptive strike’
A young Darwin soldier has claimed his defence training spurred him to shatter a man’s jaw in a popular Top End nightclub.
Read more