Mirani man charged with arson, assaults after rampage through Sarina, Rosella, Bakers Creek

A man has faced court on 14 charges over an alleged rampage with an axe. SEE THE VIDEO

A man has been remanded in custody accused over a rampage with an axe through a regional Queensland town after he allegedly started a fire at an apartment complex.

There was no bail application for Raymond Thomas Whyte, who is facing 14 offences stemming from a single alleged crime spree at Sarina on October 18.

Police allege the 44-year-old Mirani man deliberately set fire to a Railway Square unit complex about 7pm before threatening multiple people with an axe at a nearby hotel, then using the weapon to assault a man, and break into a grocery store and liquor store.

Police further allege he fled the scene in a Nissan Navara ute, before assaulting a man while attempting to take a second vehicle from a Bruce Highway property at Chelona.

Paramedics assisted with a reported house fire on Station Lane in Sarina at 7.01pm on October 18. Photo taken 10am on October 19, where a crime scene has been declared by police. Picture: Fergus Gregg

About 8pm, the Navara allegedly crashed into a house along Homebush Rd, Rosella, before the driver struck a pedestrian and attempted to flee the scene on foot.

The dog squad was used to take the man into police custody just after 8pm at Bakers Creek.

Mr White is charged with arson, five counts of assault causing bodily harm – two of which are aggravated, dangerous driving while adversely affected, going armed so as to cause fear, trespassing, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, and four counts of wilful damage.

On Monday he appeared via videolink in Mackay Magistrates Court which heard there would be no bail application and the case would be adjourned for committal mention.

The court heard the arson charge at least would need to be dealt with in the district court.

Legal Aid Queensland solicitor Ancilla Seethya said all the charges were born out of the same set of allegations.

The case will be mentioned again in late January 2025 and Mr Whyte will appear via videolink.

Nextra Freechoice Sarina was closed on Saturday October 19, after the shop front was damaged in an alleged axe rampage the previous night. Picture: Fergus Gregg

St Anne’s Catholic School teacher and Sarina resident Siobhan Rice was caught in a lockdown while eating dinner at the Sarina Sporting and Services Club, and saw people run inside the club.

She said staff locked the front and back doors, while the Friday night patrons hunkered down for almost two hours.

Staff continued as if it was “business as usual”.

“They still had their raffles … and made sure the doors were locked and nobody could come in or out,” Ms Rice said.

Tandara Hotel, Sarina

Ms Rice said the police were concentrated around the nearby Tandara Hotel, where Ms Rice believes “a majority of the action went down”.

“It’s definitely shocking because Sarina is very small,” she said.

“I know that within my school personally there’s a lot of families struggling already.

“To have this affect so many businesses and homes, it puts you a bit on edge.”

Despite missing glass, Sarina Nail and Spa was open on Saturday October 19, after an alleged axe rampage through the town the previous night. Picture: Fergus Gregg

At least Sarina businesses were seemingly damaged on Friday night: Nextra Free Choice Tobacconist, Sarina Nail and Spa and BWS.

On Saturday morning, both Nextra and BWS were closed, with Nextra’s doors boarded up.

One window at the tobacconist was shattered and the other severely damaged.

Nextra’s owners posted to Facebook that it is “all going well” and they hope to reopen on Monday.

BWS workers were seen cleaning the store and promising customers they’ll open later in the day while Sarina Nail and Spa is open and trading.

Detectives from Sarina Criminal Investigation Branch are urging any witnesses or persons with relevant vision from last night’s events to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Investigations are ongoing.

Originally published as Mirani man charged with arson, assaults after rampage through Sarina, Rosella, Bakers Creek