Tasmania breaking news: 20yo Chigwell man charged after alleged Hobart Police Station incident
A man stands accused of brazenly forcing his way into a manned police station, damaging property and threatening an officer.
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September 16: A man stands accused of brazenly forcing his way into a manned police station, damaging property and threatening an officer.
Shortly after midnight on Friday, the 20-year-old Chigwell man allegedly forced his way into the Hobart Police Station, caused damage to the premises and threatened an officer on duty.
He was arrested at 12.40am and was taken to hospital for injuries he sustained during the incident, police say.
He was later charged with Destroy Property, Breach of bail,Threaten/Intimidate Police Officer, Use abusive language to Police Officer, and Trespass.
He has been detained to appear in an after hours court later on Saturday.
Human remains found at popular surf beach
September 15: Police are trying to uncover the identity of a person after their skeletal remains were found in farmland off a popular surf beach on Tasmania’s South Arm Peninsula.
In a statement issued on Friday, Tasmania Police say the person’s remains have not been identified through forensic testing.
The remains were discovered by a resident on clifftop farmland halfway between Clifton Beach and Goats Beach on July 6.
Tasmania Police Inspector Andrew Kean said the remains were located along with a pair of black dress shoes, a short sleeve top and a plastic bag containing two keys on a key chain, a cigarette lighter, and two possible identification cards.
“Of note, the right shoe had several store bought orthotics in the heel,” Insp Keane said.
“A lengthy forensic analysis has been conducted which confirmed the remains are human, but unfortunately, an identification has not yet been made.
“Preliminary forensic analysis determined the remains belong to a man of Caucasian or Indian subcontinental descent, most likely to be middle-aged. It is believed the remains may have been at the location for at least five to thirty years.
“There are no indications of violence, however, police protocols are to treat this matter as suspicious until evidence rules otherwise.”
Insp Keane said further in-depth forensics were needed to fully identify the remains.
Warnings sparked as bushfire hits Primrose Sands
September 15: Tasmania Fire Service has issued a warning after a bushfire started at Primrose Sands.
Residents and visitors in the areas surrounding Tecoma Rd at Primrose Sands have been asked to remain on alert.
The fire reportedly poses no immediate threat and is travelling towards Correa St.
Tasmania Fire Service is attending. Conditions are expected to improve.
Pair injured in greater Hobart stabbing
Update: Police are investigating after a disturbance in Albion Road, Bridgewater about 4.40pm today.
Two men aged 29 and 26 years, who are believed to be known to each other, sustained knife injuries and are being treated by paramedics.
The circumstances around how the injuries were caused are still unclear.
Detective Inspector Craig Joel said police do not believe the attack was random and there is no ongoing threat to the wider community.
“Uniform police, forensic examiners and detectives from Bridgewater are in attendance and investigations will continue throughout the evening.”
Anyone with any information that may assist police with this matter is asked to call police on 131 444 or via Crime Stoppers www.crimestopperstas.com.au.
September 14, 5:04pm: Two people have been left with injuries after a “disturbance” at Bridgewater.
Tasmania Police issued a statement just after 5pm, saying that officers were responding to a disturbance at Bridgewater where a pair of people had received injuries.
Police did not specify the location of the incident, nor did they specify whether there was any ongoing danger to the public.
Information as to what kind of injuries, or how the people were injured, were also not provided to media.
“ … Police are following a specific line of inquiry to locate others involved,” the statement said.
More to come.
Cops hunt for hoons who flipped car near childrens playground
September 14, 10am: Cops are on the hunt for a hoon who flipped a four-wheel drive within metres of a children’s playground and posted the reckless stunt to social media.
Burnie police say they were made aware of the alleged incident on Wednesday in a public park on Truganini and Jorgensen Streets.
“While the incident wasn’t reported to police, social media posts indicate that a white four-wheel drive was hooning on the grass surface when it fully rolled over and landed back on its wheels. It is understood that the vehicle suffered body damage as a result,” Tasmania Police say.
“This behaviour that took place near where children play was incredibly irresponsible, and it is fortunate that no-one was injured,” a Burnie Police spokesperson said.
“I ask anyone with information that would assist police to identify the driver and vehicle involved to contact Burnie Police on 131 444.”
‘No further signs’ of missing boatie
September 13, 10.15am: Police say a boatie missing for three days and whose fishing vessel was found empty and adrift 12km offshore may have ended up in the water without a life jacket.
An extensive air and sea search was sparked in the early hours of Monday morning after Kerry Frankcombe, 75, failed to return home from a solo fishing trip late on Sunday. He had left his mobile phone at home.
His vessel was found abandoned and floating in waters about 12km off the coast of Beechford at 1.30am on Monday.
On Wednesday, The Westpac Rescue helicopter will search waters between Port Sorell and Beechford for the experienced Deloraine angler, police say.
Inspector Shane LeFevre said the search over the past three days had not uncovered any further signs of Mr Frankcombe.
“Unfortunately, the significant number of resources we have deployed in the search so far have not located Mr Frankcombe,” Insp. LeFevre said.
“At this stage we believe Mr Frankcombe has ended up in the water, without a life jacket.
“The search effort is continuing, and our thoughts continue to be with Mr Frankcombe’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.”
Search for missing fisherman enters second day
September 12, 9.42am:
Police will continue to search for missing experienced boatie Kerry Frankcombe who sparked a widespread air and sea search after failing to return home from a fishing trip.
Seventy-five-year-old Mr Frankcombe’s vessel was found empty and adrift in waters about 12km off the coast of Beechford at about 1.30am on Monday morning.
He had set off on a solo fishing trip on Sunday morning but had left his mobile phone at home.
“Multiple resources including marine police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter have recommenced the search between Port Sorell and Beechford this morning,” Sergeant Leighton Riggall said.
He said police held “significant concerns” for Mr Frankcombe’s welfare given the amount of time he had now been missing.
Members of the community who have information are asked to call 131 444.
Car fire closes southern road
Update 10.03am: Proctors Road, Kingston has re-opened following an earlier vehicle fire.
September 12, 9.21am:
Police have closed a southern Tasmanian intersection to clear the area after a car caught on fire.
Tasmania Police and emergency services were called to Proctors Rd, Kingston in response to a vehicle fire in the area.
“Due to the large amount of smoke in the area, the intersection of Proctors Rd and Channel Highway is currently closed while the scene is cleared,” Tasmania Police said.
Motorists are asked to avoid the area.
Man hospitalised after Kingston unit fire
September 11, 12.50pm
A man is in a serious condition in hospital after he was rescued from a unit fire in Kingston overnight.
Tasmania Police have since deemed the fire, which broke out at Redwood Rd, Kingston address at about 5.50pm on Sunday, as suspicious.
Tasmania Fire Service were able to extinguish the fire – which left “moderate” damage to the property – but the 43-year-old man had to be rescued from the unit.
He was taken to Royal Hobart Hospital in a serious condition.
No other occupants of the complex were injured.
Police said they were following a specific line of enquiry, and asked those with information to contact Kingston Police on 131 444.
Family of missing fisherman ‘devastated’ as air and sea search races against clock
Latest, 4pm: The family of a missing fisherman are “devastated” but remain hopeful the 75-year-old experienced boatie will be found – as police continue their “significant” air and sea search.
Resources including the Westpac rescue helicopter, drones, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s challenger jet and police vessels and dive crews have been deployed in the search for Kerry Frankcombe.
A concern for Mr Frankcombe’s welfare was issued at about 7.40pm on Sunday, after he failed to return from a solo, half day, fishing trip.
He had set out from the Port Sorell boat ramp earlier that morning.
Mr Frankcombe’s boat, a green and white six-metre half cab vessel, was found adrift 12km off the coast of Beechford at 1.30am on Monday.
Speaking to media on Monday afternoon, Inspector Shane Lefevre said police believed the boat was seaworthy, and that “nothing untoward” had happened to the vessel but that forensic examinations would be conducted.
He said while Mr Frankcombe was experienced and had told his family where he was going, he had never fished in the area before, and had left his mobile phone at home.
“He was planning to go out for a morning fishing trip, by himself; he hadn’t been out fishing for some time and the weather presented as a great opportunity to do that,” Insepctor Lefevre said.
“We believe he is quite experienced, he’s 75-years-old, and has been on solo trips that have occurred over numerous days … certainly he was experienced, and we just [are] now concerned for his welfare, to find out what has occurred.”
While an EPIRB was on board the vessel, Mr Frankcombe had not activated it – and that police would investigate “why or how that has not occurred”.
“It links to [our] theory that nothing untoward [had happened],” he said.
Inspector Lefevre said officers had been “surprised” at how far the vessel had travelled offshore, but “taking into account” data from the investigation, it “matched with what would occur” in the circumstances.
“The conditions have been excellent overnight, and reasonably accommodating this morning, but the wind has picked up this afternoon,” he said.
Inspector Lefevre said Mr Frankcombe’s family were “devastated” but hopeful that their loved one would be found.
“We will continue searching. We have a number of assets in the air, on the water and we have two dive squads here so they will continue searching over the next couple of days and we will [assess] towards the end of the week,” he said.
“There is a significant search area, and as you can imagine, every hour that passes, that search area increases dramatically – that’s why we are throwing as many resources as we can get at this search right now.”
Earlier, 10.30am:
The search for a missing fisherman in the state’s north has taken a significant turn after the man’s boat was found adrift in waters kilometres off the coast.
Air and water resources including the Westpac rescue helicopter, Tamar Sea Rescue and Challenger Jet from Victoria have been used in the search for missing Deloraine boatie Kerry Frankcombe, 75.
Mr Frankcombe failed to return home after a day fishing trip in Port Sorell on Sunday.
Tasmania Police say the green and white six-metre half cab vessel entered the water at the Port Sorell boat ramp in the early hours of yesterday morning for a half-day fishing trip.
The search began at about 7.55pm on Sunday.
Police found Mr Frankcombe’s car and trailer at the boat ramp.
At 1.30am on Monday, the vessel was found adrift 12km off the coast of Beechford.
Senior Constable Damien Godfrey said there had been “no EPIRB” activation, and Mr Godfrey had not taken his mobile phone with him on the fishing trip.
Increased police activity on the water at Beechford will continue into the day.
Police urge those who may have seen Mr Frankcombe or the vessel to contact police on 131444 or through www.crimestopperstas.com.au and quote ESCAD #353-10092023.
Initial – September 11, 8.20am:
A search for a missing boatie has been launched after the older man failed to return from a fishing trip.
Kerry Frankcombe launched a boat from the Port Sorell boat ramp for a fishing trip on the Port Sorell River on Sunday at about midday, but he never returned.
Tasmania Police say his boat is a white six-metre half cab and is white with green trimmings.
Mr Frankcombe was last seen wearing black trousers and a blue checked shirt and, possibly, a grey coat.
Those who have seen Mr Frankcombe are urged to call police on 131 444 and quote ESCAD #353-10092023.
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