Rockville tomahawk attack: Toowoomba police catch up with two men wanted over alleged violent home invasion

Two men wanted in relation to an allegedly violent robbery with an axe that put a retiree in hospital with a critical injury have been arrested.

Two men wanted in relation to an allegedly violent robbery with an axe that put a retiree in hospital with a critical injury have been arrested.

Denzel Hinch, 19, and Eliah Bligh, 18, were picked up on arrest warrants in the Toowoomba area on Monday.

They have been charged with a range of serious offences, including attempted murder, enter dwelling with intent, attempted enter dwelling and commit indictable offence.

Detectives have established a crime scene at a Rockville home after offenders attacked a man at his home with a tomahawk. Police believe the offenders have been involved in an overnight crime spree across Toowoomba.

The attempted murder charge relates to an alleged incident from the early hours of October 18 where police allege the pair went to a home on Trousdell St in Rockville about 6am and confronted the occupant, a 68-year-old man.

It is alleged that there was an altercation and the occupant was struck in the chest with a tomahawk before the pair allegedly fled the scene.

Paramedics stabilised the man at the scene before transporting him to Toowoomba Hospital.

He has since been released.

The attack sparked a manhunt for the two teenagers which came to a head on Monday, November 7 when a man was sitting in his car on Goombungee Rd in Harlaxton, when it is alleged Mr Hinch opened the vehicle and threatened him, before hitting the victim with the blunt end of the knife.

The victim managed to flee by driving away and suffered minor injuries from the incident.

Minutes later, a man and woman were changing a tyre on a vehicle which was also parked on Goombungee Rd in Harlaxton, when an allegedly stolen Hyundai Veloster pulled up beside them.

Denzel Hinch and Eliah Bligh.

Police will allege Mr Hinch and Mr Bligh got out of the car and threatened the pair with a meat cleaver, a knife and an axe, demanding they hand over the keys to the car, but the pair refused.

Both alleged offenders then fled in the car they arrived in, which was allegedly stolen from an address on Grenier St in Toowoomba, a day prior on Sunday. The car was later found abandoned at nearby Griffith St.

Follow up inquiries by officers resulted in the arrest of Mr Bligh at an address in Harlaxton soon afterwards.

Then around 12.30pm, Mr Hinch allegedly broke into an address on Hill St, Toowoomba City and stole personal items from the home, during which time a 46-year-old male occupant of the home was assaulted with a piece of timber.

The offender fled and further inquiries by officers located Mr Hinch at an address in Wilsonton.

Mr Bligh has been charged with attempted murder, attempted enter premises and commit indictable offence and enter dwelling with intent.

Mr Hinch has been charged with nine offences, including attempted murder, attempted robbery armed in company, attempted enter premises and commit indictable offence and receiving tainted property.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Hinch’s case was due to be mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

However, the court was told when a legal representative for McConnell & Saldumbide Criminal Lawyers attended the watch-house to obtain instructions, Mr Hinch was “not in a fit state” to be interviewed.

His case was adjourned to the following morning, November 12.

Mr Bligh was in a fit and proper state to talk with his legal representative, Claire Graham.

Ms Graham told the court she would not make a bail application for her client, and asked for a full brief of evidence to be compiled.

Mr Bligh’s case was adjourned to January 23, at which time, all of the police evidence is expected to be with his lawyers.

Both young men were remanded in custody.