NT man charged with child abuse material

A search warrant led police to charging a 43 year-old man for a “reprehensible” crime.

Police have charged two people in relation to alleged online scam activity across Australia over the past 2 years.

A man from Victoria River has been charged with child exploitation offences, police have confirmed.

On Thursday, a search warrant was executed by the Joint Anti-Child Child Exploitation Team on a Victoria River residence in which a mobile phone was seized which allegedly contained child abuse material, police confirmed.

A 43-year-old man was charged with possession of child abuse material and remanded to appear in Darwin Local on Wednesday 27 December 2023.

Senior Sergeant Wade Jeremiah addressed the “reprehensible” crime.

“To view, possess or create child abuse material is a reprehensible crime and anyone who is involved in this offending should be aware that you will eventually be caught.”

Police have urged the public with any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Remote paramedic’s home allegedly hit by teen thieves

While a Territory paramedic was performing lifesaving medical intervention, a teenage trio were allegedly breaking into their Tennant Creek home.

NT Police allege two 17-year-olds and a 14-year-old boy broke into the Meyers St home and caused damage at 8am, Wednesday.

The trio were later charged with aggravated burglary and property damage.

United Worker Union Secretary Erina Early confirmed the home belonged to an on-duty paramedic, who at the time of the alleged burglary was performing CPR.

Ms Early said as they were trying to save a patient suffering from a cardiac arrest, their phone was “pinging notifying them someone was breaking into their home”.

United Worker Union Secretary Erina Early confirmed the home belonged to an on-duty paramedic, who at the time of the alleged burglary was performing CPR. Picture: Floss Adams

The worker said this was the third time in two weeks that their property was hit by home invaders.

It is not alleged the three break-ins are related.

NT Police said the three boys were arrested without incident.

The younger boy and one of the 17-year-olds were remanded and are expected to face court on Thursday.

The other boy was granted bail, and will appear in court on January 24.

Police charge man and woman with 39 counts of fraud

A man and woman are due to face court each charged with 39 counts of obtaining benefit by deception in relation to a string of alleged online scams throughout Australia.

Members of NT Police’s cybercrime unit arrested the 38-year-old man and 29-year-old woman in Millner on Tuesday over what they allege are online fraud offences during the past two years.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant David Buganey said the man was remanded in custody to face the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday while the woman was bailed to appear on January 9.

“This was an extensive operation by the members from the Cyber Crime Unit and online scams remain one of our largest priorities when it comes to cybercrime,” he said.

“We are urging the public to remain vigilant as we see an increase in scamming activities around the holiday season.”

Also on Tuesday, officers responded to reports an 83-year-old man was assaulted by two male offenders who were trying to steal his car.

An NT Police spokeswoman said the pair allegedly tried to steal the car on Commelina Court in Moulden at about 4.30am when the man confronted them.

She said the pair then allegedly threw a bucket at the 83-year-old, causing minor injuries, and made verbal threats before fleeing the scene.

Serious Crime Detectives are investigating the incident and are urging residents in the area to review their CCTV footage and provide information to police on 131 444.

Police charge man with carjacking elderly woman

Police have arrested a man who allegedly assaulted an elderly woman and tried to steal her car in Nightcliff this week while his accomplice remains on the run.

Officers charged the man with a string of offences, including assault, theft and property damage following what they described as “a crime series in Nightcliff and Coconut Grove”.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said the 20-year-old and another man were allegedly involved in stealing and criminal damage incidents at supermarkets in Nightcliff and a business on Bagot Road.

Sergeant Motter-Barnard said the pair was also allegedly involved in assault and stealing incidents on Ferntree St and Progress Dr in Nightcliff and on Dick Ward Dr in Coconut Grove.

He said all of the incidents occurred between 6.30pm and 10pm on Monday, including one in which a 76-year-old woman was allegedly attacked by the pair as they tried to steal her car on Progress Dr.

Sergeant Motter-Barnard said detectives from Strike Force Trident found and arrested the 20-year-old at a residence in Ludmilla at about 12.20pm on Tuesday without incident.

He was remanded in custody to appear in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday.

“Investigations are still under way to locate the second offender, who we have already identified,” he said.

“We would urge anyone with information on these incidents to make contact on 131 444.

“You can also contact anonymously on 1800 333 000 or through crimestoppersnt.com.au”

Meanwhile detectives from the Domestic and Family Violence Unit, Strike Force Trident and the Dog Operations Unit arrested Sebastian Roddenby in Palmerston on Tuesday after a week-long manhunt.

The 35-year-old is alleged to have been involved in domestic violence incidents in Katherine and had been avoiding police since December 9.

Senior Sergeant Ian Young said he had now been charged with aggravated assault, deprivation of liberty, making a threat to kill and breach of bail and was remanded to appear in court on Wednesday.

“This arrest was the result of extensive efforts from multiple branches of the NT Police,” he said.

“Domestic and family violence has no place in our community and we are continuing to urge those impacted to reach out.”

Anyone who has witnessed or experienced domestic or family violence is urged to call police on 131 444 or in an emergency, call triple-0.

If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including 1800 RESPECT (1800737732) and Lifeline 131 114.

Cops on the hunt after man shot with bow, store suffers $10k damage

Police are on the hunt for multiple suspects after a man was shot with a compound bow and a group of youths caused up to $10,000 in damage to a community store in the western Top End.

An NT Police spokeswoman said officers were called to reports of up to 40 people fighting with weapons in Wadeye about 6pm on Monday, with the group disbursing upon their arrival.

A 35-year-old man suffered an arrow wound to his arm after investigators believe he was shot with a compound bow during the brawl.

Acting Commander Brendan Muldoon said local police were investigating the incident and the injured man was expected to be conveyed out of the community for treatment.

“Highly visible proactive police patrols are currently occurring throughout the community to prevent further offending and to obtain information around the recent disturbance,” he said.

“The behaviour we saw yesterday is not acceptable and police will continue to work closely with Traditional Owners, Elders and everyone within the community to help bring an end to this sort of senseless violence.”

Then in the early hours of Tuesday morning, a group of about 10 people, believed to be a mix of youths and adults, were reported breaking in to the community store at Palumpa.

Police say the group arrived in three stolen vehicles and Peppimenarti members who attended the scene found the offenders had caused extensive damage and stolen property with a combined value of about $10,000.

Attending officers successfully recovered one vehicle that was reported stolen from Darwin during the previous weekend while the two other vehicles fled the scene.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage with the offenders believed to be from the Wadeye region.

Investigators are encouraging residents to contact authorities with tips or details related to the incident, with anyone with any information urged to contact police on 131 444.

Meanwhile, police are also seeking help from the public to track down two youths who raided the till at a service station in Katherine in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The spokeswoman said the two youths entered the Caltex servo and attempted to take items from the fridges without paying and threw cans of drink at a staff member who tried to intervene.

She said staff then locked themselves in a safe room while the youths turned their attention to the till and items behind the counter, stealing cash and tobacco before running from the area.

Police are urging community members to come forward with any information related to the identities or whereabouts of the offenders while investigations remain ongoing.

Cops arrest couple after shocking home invasion, shotgun theft

Police have arrested a couple who allegedly threatened a Darwin man with a knife after breaking into his house and stealing three shotguns while four children were at home.

An NT Police spokesman said the 25-year-old man and 29-year-old woman allegedly unlawfully entered the Jingili residence at about 10.30am on Tuesday, stealing jewellery and the three firearms.

When the male resident returned home and confronted the couple, one of them allegedly threatened him with a knife before fleeing the scene in a Toyota LandCruiser.

Officers from Strike Force Trident and the Dog Operations Unit deployed to the scene and began tracking the LandCruiser with the man’s help.

Police observed the vehicle allegedly driving erratically through Jingili and Ludmilla, before it collided with a parked vehicle on Bremer St and drove into a nearby drain.

Both suspects, who were allegedly under the influence of methamphetamine at the time, were arrested without incident and all of the stolen property recovered.

The 25-year-old man was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment while the 29-year-old woman was remanded in custody to face the Darwin Local Court on Tuesday.

She stands charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, theft, property damage, dangerous driving and drug driving as well as firearms and other driving offences.

Her alleged accomplice remains under police guard at RDH and is expected to be charged with aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, theft, property damage, breaching bail and firearms offences.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dale Motter-Barnard said the home invasion was “a confronting incident for the family involved and thankfully no one was injured”.

“The quick-thinking resident who immediately contacted police on triple-0 allowed us to begin tracking the vehicle without delay and helped facilitate a quick arrest.

“These arrests were excellent work from Trident and Dog Operations.

“Police continue to urge members of the public who witness crime or anti-social behaviour to make contact on 131 444 or in an emergency to contact triple-0.”

Arnhem Land patrols lead to 136kg kava bust

Five adults have been arrested and charged and another three summonsed following a targeted operation into the illegal distribution of illicit substances in the Arnhem Land region.

On Monday, police confirmed targeted patrols between Katherine and Nhulunbuy resulted in the arrests and the seizure of 20g of methamphetamine, 20g of cocaine, 438g non-medicinal cannabis and 136kg of kava.

Police also seized a vehicle believed to have been used in the alleged offending along with a quantity of cash alleged to have been derived as a result of illegal distribution.

In a separate incident two women aged 27 and 45 were arrested following a search warrant at residence in Groote Eylandt.

During the search, 964g of non-medical cannabis, drug paraphernalia and a large quantity of cash was seized and the pair were charged for drug offences.

One woman was remanded to appear on December 18 and the other bailed to appear in 2024.

Police urge anyone with information to call 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Man refused bail after Mitchell Street coward punch

A man has been arrested after allegedly coward punching another man on Mitchell Street.

Just after 4am on Saturday, emergency services received a reports a 48 year-old man had been allegedly coward punched.

The victim was transported to Royal Darwin Hospital.

On Sunday, NT police arrested a 43 year-old man in Katherine in relation to the alleged assault.

The man was refused bail and charged with aggravated assault and unlawfully causing serious harm.

Senior Sergeant Karl said police would “not stand” for such violence.

“The act of a coward punch can be life changing for the victim and victim’s family,” he said.

“Northern Territory Police will not stand for any sort of violence, person’s committing such acts will be dealt with through the courts.”

Police have urged anyone with information to contact 131 444 and quote reference 23000008101.

Darwin man charged with child abuse material offences after tip off

Australian Federal Police have charged a 31-year-old Darwin man with a string of offences after he allegedly sent unsolicited child abuse material to several people interstate.

The Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team raided the man’s home on December 8 following a tip off from a South Australian resident alleging they received online child abuse material.

Investigators seized electronic devices including two mobile phones allegedly containing child abuse material and records of sexualised communications.

Police will allege the man engaged in illegal online activity, which extended to unsolicited material being sent to residents in New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria.

AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said anyone who possessed, accessed or transmitted child abuse material perpetuated the abuse of children and would be prosecuted.

“The children shown in these images are vulnerable people that need to be protected, not used for the gratification of predators,” he said.

The man was charged with one count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service and five counts of transmitting child abuse material using a carriage service.

He faced the Darwin Local Court last week and will return to court in February.