Dinah Court, Stuart Park unit fire forces evacuation of residents
A Darwin unit fire which forced the evacuation of residents is now under control, fireys say.
Welcome to the NT News’ weekly Top End rolling police, crime, traffic, fire and breaking news blog. Keep up with the latest in the Top End – from Katherine to Darwin, West Daly, West Arnhem and the Tiwi Islands.
October 12, 9am: A Darwin unit fire which forced the evacuation of residents is now under control, fireys say.
NT Fire and Rescue Service in a statement on Saturday morning said the fire was located at Dinah Court, Stuart Park.
“As a precaution the entire block has been evacuated to ensure resident safety,” the statement read.
“Firefighters brought the blaze under control and the fire is now fully extinguished.
They said one person was being treated for smoke inhalation.
Fire investigators remain at the scene to determine the cause of the blaze, with multiple police officers seen entering and leaving the building.
The street remained closed off to vehicles while fire crews reorganised themselves.
At least two firefighters could be seen in the hands of a paramedic, appearing to undergo a medical examination.
The remainder off the fire crews could be seen accounting for their kit and equipment as they re-hydrated for the rest of the day ahead.
Three injured after woman’s alleged scissor stabbing spree
October 11, 9am: A woman has been arrested after allegedly following and stabbing multiple people in a series of random attacks in Parap – with the incident starting on a local bus.
NT Police said officers were called about 6.15pm on October 10, after reports of a 19-year-old woman “pursuing individuals with scissors and attacking them”.
Three people were injured including a woman in her 60s who was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
A 70-year-old man and 27-year-old man suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.
An NT Police spokesperson said police arrested the woman nearby.
She was charged with three counts of aggravated assault and one count of going armed in public.
Police said the woman was remanded in custody and was due to appear in Darwin Local Court on Friday – however her matter was not mentioned in court.
Transport Worker’s Union of Australia SA/NT branch secretary Sam McIntosh said the alleged stabbing only reinforced the urgency of the union’s call for full length, “fit-for-purpose driver protection screens” to be installed in every Darwin bus.
“A TWU delegation recently met with the NT Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure to reiterate our urgent call to expedite the installation of driver protection screens and for greater security on the network,” Mr McIntosh said.
“We could not be clearer: every driver behind the wheel of a bus and every community member who uses our public transport network has the right to be safe.”
Police urged those who witnessed the incident to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Man at large after allegedly cutting partner’s neck
October 11, 11.05am: Police are searching for a man who allegedly assaulted his partner who was hospitalised with a large cut to her neck.
About 5.20am on Thursday, a woman was presented to Katherine Hospital with a large laceration to the back of her neck, police say.
Police allege the woman was assaulted at her Katherine residence by her male partner.
The whereabouts of the alleged offender remain unknown, with detectives continuing to investigate.
The woman remains in hospital in a stable condition.
NT Police are urging anyone with information to contact authorities on 131 444.
Woman arrested after alleged Karama assault
October 11, 9.41am: A woman has been arrested after allegedly assaulting her partner with a weapon in Karama.
About 1am on Friday, police received reports a 39 year-old woman had attacked her partner with an edged weapon.
Both the alleged offender and the victim have been transported to Royal Darwin Hospital to receive treatment.
The matter is currently being investigated by the Northern Domestic Violence Unit.
Top End service station held up by machete wielding trio
October 11, 7am: Three offenders remain at large after holding up a service station with a machete in Katherine overnight.
Police say about 11.20pm on Thursday, an adult man and two boys forced their way through the back door of BP Katherine.
It is alleged staff members were threatened with a machete when the trio broke in.
The cash register was stolen and the offenders fled the scene.
No one was hurt in the incident, NT Police say.
As of Friday morning, no arrests have been made.
Investigations are continuing.
Two arrested as 30kg of illegal drug allegedly found in remote NT
Two men have been arrested after police intelligence uncovered more than 30kg of an illegal drug across two separate remote communities.
Remote East Arnhem Land officers received intelligence an illegal substance was allegedly being stored at a home in Gapuwiyak about 11.20am Wednesday.
Officers searched the residence and allegedly found and seized 31kg of kava.
Police later arrested a 40-year-old man that was not a resident of the Gapuwiyak.
He was charged with commercial possession of kava, commercial supply of kava, being in an Indigenous community without a permit and tobacco smuggling offences.
He will appear in the Darwin Local Court on October 11.
Police conducted further investigation leading to a search of a property in Ramingining, where officers found another 2.5kg of kava and more than $13,600 in cash.
Ramingining is a 12 hour trip away from Gapuwiyak by road.
A 44-year-old man was arrested and charged with traffickable supply of kava, supply kava without a licence, and resisting police.
He has been bailed to appear in court at a later date.
Dad and son, 10, allegedly involved in Top End trespasses: Police
October 10, 1.22pm: A woman was left with multiple blunt force injuries and puncture wounds in a DV assault in Palmerston, with police working to find the alleged offender.
NT Police were at 9.30pm on Tuesday called to a carpark on the corner of The Boulevard and Roystonea Ave where a woman was reportedly assaulted by a man known to her.
An NT Police spokesperson on Thursday afternoon said bystanders intervened and the man fled the scene.
The woman was taken to hospital where she remains in a stable condition.
“The man and the woman are known to one another,” the spokesperson said.
“He has since been identified and efforts are underway to locate him.”
Those with information have been urged to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Support services for those affected by domestic violence are available, including 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) and Lifeline (13 11 14).
Dad and son, 10, allegedly involved in Top End trespasses: Police
October 10, 12pm: A 10-year-old boy and his father were allegedly involved in a spate of trespass incidents at a Top End industrial complex.
NT Police are investigating after the incidents, which happened on Wednesday morning.
Between 5am and 7.30am, reports of “multiple offences” being committed in the Pinelands industrial area were received by police.
NT Police in a statement issued on Thursday said a business owner apprehended a 10-year-old boy, believed to have been involved in the offences, and took him to Palmerston station.
An NT Police spokesperson said an adult man, “believed to be the father of the youth”, fled the scene with another woman.
The man, aged 37 and the woman, aged 27, were arrested by police on Thursday morning.
The 10-year-old boy was “released into the care of a responsible adult”.
NT Police said a referral had been made to Territory Families.
The man and woman at the time of writing remain in police custody and are expected to be charged.
Five times the limit: Man crashes car on suburban NT road in alleged drink drive
October 10, 12.30pm: A Top End man who crashed his car on a suburban Batchelor road was allegedly more than five times over the legal limit.
NT Police said Batchelor police officers responded to a single-vehicle crash on Kirra Crescent just before 5pm on Wednesday.
Nobody was injured in the crash, but a 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
He allegedly returned a high range reading of more than five times the legal limit.
The man was slapped with three charges including drive high range blood alcohol content, drive an unregistered / uninsured vehicle and breach of bail.
Remote Sergeant Matthew Ridolfi said the alleged incident was yet another example of “poor decision making” by NT drivers.
“This incident occurred on a suburban street that has a high level of pedestrian activity that could have easily ended in tragedy,” Sergeant Ridolfi said.
The man was remanded overnight and was to appear in court on Thursday.
The NT’s road toll for 2024 currently sits at 50.
Man facing six charges after alleged Darwin DV attack
October 9: A 47-year-old man has been charged with six counts after an alleged domestic violence incident some days ago.
An NT police spokesperson said the man was arrested on Tuesday and would appear in the Darwin Local Court on Wednesday.
The spokesperson said the man had been charged with three counts of breach of bail, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of breaching a domestic violence order.
They urged anyone experiencing or witness to domestic violence to contact police on 131 444 – or triple-0 in an emergency.
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