BY LILLY HAINES

A 36-year-old Wallsend Man has been arrested overnight following a police pursuit from Lambton to Maryland.

At around 12:20am this morning police attempted to stop a white Holden Barina on Newcastle Road in New Lambton, suspecting passengers traveling in the vehicle were not wearing seatbelts.

When the vehicle failed to stop, police engaged in a pursuit which led through Jesmond and Wallsend reaching speeds of 90km/h in streets with a limit of 60km/h.

The vehicle continued to drive in a reckless manner with passengers in the vehicle proceeding to throw objects at the pursuing police vehicle.

Police ceased pursuit of the vehicle due to safety concerns when the vehicle increased its speed to 110km/h on Minmi Road in Wallsend.

A short time later police received information the vehicle had stopped and the occupants had fled at Shortland Close in Maryland.

Police attended the area with the Dog Squad to establish a perimeter, where police dog ‘Ulrich’ and his handler commenced tracking the male driver.

Ulrich found the man attempting to hide in the front yard of a property in Prospero Street.

He was in possession of a knife and cloth manipulated for use as a face mask as well as a small amount of the prohibited drug ‘ice’.

The man was arrested and taken to Waratah Police Station where he gave officers a fake name before police confirmed his identity using fingerprints and established he was currently on parole until 2021 having only been released from custody two weeks ago.

The parolee was charged with four offences including point pursuit – drive recklessly, learner driver not accompanied by licensed driver, custody of knife in a public place, and possession of a prohibited drug.

The man was refused bail and is set to appear at Newcastle Local Court today.



Image: Newcastle City Police