Antarctic ice breaker heads home after engine room fire | Motorbike crash causes havoc on Sorell causeway
Police continue to hunt for a man who allegedly fled when they went to a property to talk to him about recent burglaries in Tasmania’s North West. LATEST BREAKING NEWS >>
Police & Courts
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Manhunt continues in north-west
Police continue to hunt for a man who allegedly fled when they went to a property to talk to him about recent burglaries in Tasmania’s North West.
Devonport CIB is continuing to search for Johnathon Berwick who they claim is a person of interest in relation to a police operation conducted in the Dawsons Siding Road, Dulverton area yesterday.
Police say that on Monday, they attended an address in the area to locate and arrest people believed to be involved in the commission of several property-related crimes.
“On arrival of police at the property, a 26 year old man fled into nearby bushland on an
ATV,” police allege.
Despite a comprehensive search of the area including the use of the Westpac Rescue
helicopter, the man was not found.
A second man, a 21-year-old from Devonport, was arrested at the scene and charged with several counts of burglary and stealing.
Police allege they recovered a significant amount of stolen property from recent business burglaries and a stolen motor vehicle from the location.
The younger man was bailed to appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court at a later date.
“A number of people are assisting police with their inquiries in respect to this matter,
however police would like to speak to Johnathon Mark Berwick who it is believed can assist to resolve a number of property related matters,” police said.
Anyone with information relating to the current whereabouts of Johnathon Berwick should contact Devonport CIB on 131444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 000 333 or crimestopperstas.com.au.
Engine room fire on Antarctic ice breaker
The Antarctic supply vessel the MPV Everest is returning to Hobart after experiencing an engine fire five days into a 14-day trip.
The Australian Antarctic Division said none of the 109 expeditioners and crew on board the ice-strengthened ship were injured in the fire which was contained to the engine room.
Other ships in the area have been alerted to assist if needed.
The MPV Everest, brought onto the Antarctic run to replace the Aurora Australis icebreaker before its replacement the RSV Nuyina arrives, was travelling home after resupplying Davis and Mawson research stations in east Antarctica.
The fire was detected just after 2pm on Monday in the port-side engine room and was contained and put out.
The DP3 ice-class vessel has full redundancy in the on-board power systems and it is maintaining its court north using the starboard engine room.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has been alerted.
Further updates will be provided at 2pm today.
Motorbike crash
9.30am Tuesday, April 6
Emergency services are on the scene of a motorcycle crash on the causeway between Midway Point and Sorell along the Tasman Highway.
Tasmania Police said one lane was open at this stage and traffic was moving slowly, however motorists are asked to avoid the area for the time being.
Traffic is heavy in the area and delays are expected.
Police said there are suspected non-life threatening injuries at this stage.
Home-made gun fired at house
Monday April 5, 5.40pm
A MAN will appear in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Monday evening in relation to a firearm incident last week.
Police allege that about 10.30pm on Friday, the man arrived at the house of a person known to him.
There was an altercation and a homemade gun was fired.
No one was injured by the shot, but the person who lived at the property sustained a hand injury in the altercation.
He later reported the incident to police.
The two men were known to each other and police arrested the 30-year-old at his home in Waverley, in Launceston’s east, on Monday afternoon.
He will appear in court at 8pm on Monday charged with firearms offences and aggravated assault.
This incident is not linked to three other firearm incidents in Launceston between Thursday and Saturday.
Police hunt for helmet-less ATV rider
Monday April 5, 4pm
THE rescue helicopter is being used in a police hunt for a man riding an ATV near Railton.
Police say they want to talk to the man in relation to a series of property crimes in the North-West.
The man, aged in his 30s, is understood to be driving an ATV – without a helmet – in the Railton Rd and Dawson Siding Rd areas around Dulverton.
Anyone who sees the man is asked to contact police on 131 444.
Motorbike, ATV riders injured in crashes
Sunday April 4, 7.30pm
A 27-year-old rider of an ATV has been injured after his vehicle flipped backwards while he was driving up a steep incline.
The man was riding on forestry land off Deep Creek Road at Wynyard when the incident occurred about 3.20pm.
Police said the ATV lifted from the front causing it to roll back, throwing the rider off.
The rider was taken from the area by emergency services personnel and friends of the rider who used a second ATV on scene.
The rider was taken to the North West Regional Hospital in a stable condition.
Meanwhile, police remain on the scene of a trail bike crash on private property on Jones River Road, Ellendale.
The sole rider was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital in the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in a critical condition.
Sunday April 4, 4.55pm
EMERGENCY services are attending to two drivers who were injured in two separate crashes, one in the state’s North-West and one in the Derwent Valley.
Police are on the scene of a motorbike crash on private property on Jones River Road in Ellendale.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter is transporting the injured motorbike rider to the Royal Hobart Hospital. Crash Investigation Services have also been sent to the scene.
No details of injuries are available.
At Oldina, south of Wynyard, police and emergency services are on the scene of an ATV crash off Deep Creek Road.
A rescue unit has been sent to help the injured rider. Details of the injuries were not provided.
Third firearm incident in Launceston in three days
Sunday, April 4, 12.30pm
TASMANIA’S North has been hit with yet another firearms incident, with police investigating an incident that left two unoccupied vehicles damaged overnight.
The first incident was reported at 8.50pm on Saturday, where the rear window of a Subaru parked on Poplar Parade was destroyed.
The second incident, also on Poplar Parade, was reported about 7.20am on Sunday, where the rear window of a bus had been damaged overnight.
Police said both residents reported hearing loud bangs and the damage appears to have been caused by a firearm discharge.
This comes after a Balfour Street house was shot at on Saturday morning and a woman was injured in a shooting at St Leonards on Thursday night. It is unknown at this stage if these incidents are related.
Inspector Michael Johnston said both incidents appeared to have been committed by the same party.
“Police take all reports of alleged firearms discharge seriously and assure the community that all incidents will be investigated thoroughly,” he said.
“Although no injuries were reported from these incidents overnight, this is the third firearms incident in Northern Tasmania is as many days, which is understandably concerning to police and the community.
“At this stage in the investigation, these incident do not appear to have been targeted, and were potentially an offender or offenders shooting at parked vehicles.”
Police urge anyone with information in relation to any of the firearm incidents to call Tasmania Police on 131 444 or to Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
Shots fired into occupied home in state’s north
Saturday, April 3, 7.15pm
SHOTS were fired into a Launceston home early on Saturday morning, police say, with an investigation underway to determine a possible motive.
It is the second shooting in the city in three days.
Two people — a man and a woman — were inside the home on Balfour St when the incident occurred about 3.30am. They were not injured.
Detective Sergeant Glenn Evans said the residents woke to glass breaking and discovered a broken window and light fitting in the lounge room they initially attributed to being broken by a power surge.
“While cleaning up inside the property this morning, the residents realised the hole in the window was consistent with a shot from a firearm and contacted police,” Sgt Evans said.
“Police conducted doorknocks in the area today and through that process people reported hearing two gunshots and a car driving away.”
Sgt Evans said the incident did not appear to be targeted and was not believed to be connected to a separate shooting in St Leonards on Thursday night.
In that incident, a woman was shot in the back, leading to her being hospitalised and needing surgery.
Police have called for witnesses to both incidents.
Anyone who may have noticed unusual activity in Balfour St between High and George streets early on Saturday morning is asked to phone police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Youth wanted over alleged purse theft
Saturday, April 3, 6.50pm
A YOUNG man is being pursued by police after a report he stole a woman’s purse in Devonport on Saturday morning.
Police said just before 10am, a 64-year-old woman was outside a store on William St and was approached from behind by a male on a bicycle.
“The young male has grabbed the female’s purse from under her arm and continued riding away on William St towards Bluff Beach,” Detective Constable Kendall King said.
The offender was riding a white mountain bike and was described as wearing a dark-coloured hooded jumper with the hood covering his head, black track pants with a white stripe down the leg and a burgundy coloured backpack.
Anyone who witnessed the incident is being encouraged to phone Devonport CIB on 6478 4036 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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