Man arrested by NT Police wanted for days before dramatic Hungry Jack’s arrest

Police have revealed details of the dramatic arrest at Coolalinga Hungry Jack’s drive-through, including why they were tracking one of the men.

One of the men dramatically arrested by heavily armed police in a Hungry Jack’s drive-through on Thursday was wanted after allegedly threatening someone with a crossbow while on parole, police have revealed.

Plain clothes police officers, heavily-armed Territory Response Group members, the Dog Operations Unit and general duties officers descended on the drive-through of the Hungry Jack’s at Coolalinga yesterday in a dramatic arrest that was captured on camera and widely circulated on social media.

The Coolalinga Hungry Jacks store. Two men, aged 30 and 31, were arrested by heavily armed police about 5.40pm on Thursday, January 5, 2023. NT Police said the pair was wanted on outstanding arrest warrants. Picture: Sierra Haigh

Footage of the incident shows the 30-year-old man trying to fight off police officers with a piece of broken window from the car he was in.

The windows of the car were shattered when police fired bean bags at the vehicle in an attempt to arrest the men.

A 30-year-old man was allegedly in possession of a crossbow and shotgun when he was dramatically arrested by police at Coolalinga Hungry Jack's. Picture: NT Police

Police confirmed both men were wanted on existing arrest warrants for various offences.

Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Day said NT Police’s Serious Crime Squad had been searching for the 30-year-old since January 3 when he allegedly breached parole by failing to submit for a drug test and “came into possession” of a stolen Toyota HiLux.

A 30-year-old man allegedly threatened residents of a home in Gray with a crossbow on Thursday. Picture: NT Police

On January 5, police said the man went to a house in Gray where he allegedly assaulted occupants with a crossbow.

Police allege an hour later he returned with a shotgun.

A joint police operation involving the Territory Response Group, the Dog Operations Unit, Serious Crime detectives and general duties police was then launched.

Dramatic footage of a NT Police serious crimes bust at the Hungry Jacks drive-through at Coolalinga, off the Stuart Highway on Thursday January 5.

“A plan was then implemented to apprehend that particular individual as safely as possible,” Sergeant Day said.

“This was deemed a high-risk operation due to the presence of the weapons.”

Sergeant Day said the 30-year-old had also used a tyre iron to try and fight police off as a shotgun sat under the back seat of the car he was in.

Police made the dramatic arrest about an hour after their first attempt to capture the man at a service station in Karama failed.

The man allegedly fled from police before diving into the back of the ute, which then tore through the car park with the man still in the back.

Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Day said the arrest was deemed high-risk. Picture: Riley Walter

Sergeant Day said police had tailed the man all day and after the failed arrest attempt, decided to execute their operation as soon as the car had stopped.

“They waited and waited all day basically until he stopped at that particular location, providing an opportunity for the apprehension,” he said.

“That was the opportunity that arose.”

“Once it’s deemed high risk, we use technical support.”

One of the police officers at the scene was wearing a Centrelink singlet. Picture: Supplied

During the arrest, bean bag rounds, tasers, and capsicum spray were used to restrain the man.

The 31-year-old man in the car was also arrested after police identified him as an “active target” for the Domestic Violence Unit.

Police found a shotgun, shotgun cartridges, a crossbow, knives and drug paraphernalia in the car. Sergeant Day said the arrest was a “successful operation” carried out by a “well-trained TRG Unit”.

“No members of the public were injured, no police were injured.

Both men were expected to be charged on Friday and face Darwin Local Court on Monday.

The 30-year-old was expected to be charged with two counts of aggravated assault as well as unlawful entry, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, firearms offences, drug offences and multiple traffic offences.

Originally published as Man arrested by NT Police wanted for days before dramatic Hungry Jack’s arrest