Man charged following pursuit – New England Police District

A man will face court charged following a pursuit in the state’s Northern Tablelands yesterday.

About 1.40pm (Monday 1 July 2024), officers attached to Armidale Highway Patrol were patrolling Niagara Street, Armidale, when they sighted a silver Hyundai I30 being driven by a man known to police.

Officers attempted to stop the car, and when it allegedly failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. The pursuit was terminated before entering the township of Bundarra.

A short time later, police located the car on the side of the road about 10km north of Bundarra, where they arrested a man.

During a search of the car, police allegedly located and seized, two large hunting knives, and a machete.

The driver – a 19-year-old man – was subject to a breath and drug test, and allegedly returned a positive result to methylamphetamine and cannabis.

He was taken to Inverell Police Station and charged with never licensed person drive vehicle on road, police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed, custody of knife in public place, and drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood.

A secondary oral fluid test was conducted and will be sent for analysis.

The man was also charged with four domestic violence-related offences relating to incidents in Moree in February and March this year.

The Armidale man was refused bail and attended Moree Local Court today (Tuesday 2 July 2024), where he was given conditional bail to appear at Armidale Local Court on Monday 15 July 2024.

/Public Release. View in full here.