After a stressful three-hour stand-off in Newcastle, New South Wales, during which a property may have been set on fire, heavily armed police with machine guns rushed to make an arrest of a guy.
Following reports that the guy had barricaded himself inside a residence on Hamilton’s Everton St. on Tuesday, police sent an armoured vehicle and riot squad members.
At 7.30 am, the property was targeted by detectives from the severe crime unit looking into a string of suspected armed robberies. However, the guy reportedly refused to leave, which led to the siege.
After a little fire started, emergency services were contacted, but it was soon put out without any problems, according to police.
Locals claim that negotiation experts were sent in to meet with the guy, and that early negotiations were held over a loudspeaker.
Finally, around 10.30 am, the individual was taken into custody by officers carrying assault weapons with military-style sights and wearing body armour.
Following the arrest, search warrant raids were conducted at both that residence and another one in neighbouring Mayfield.
It followed the formation of Strike Force Kulla by the State Crime Command to look into three suspected armed robberies that allegedly took place in a number of Newcastle pubs over the course of five weeks.
According to a spokeswoman, the guy was transported to Newcastle Police Station and booked on two charges of robbery with a hazardous weapon and robbery while brandishing an offensive weapon.
A police operation apparently started when a 29-year-old male allegedly refused to leave the house when officers arrived, according to the spokesperson.
Despite not being needed, crews from Fire and Rescue NSW arrived after hearing allegations of a minor fire inside the house.
Before the individual was peacefully taken into custody at about 10.30 am, specialist cops, including negotiators, were present at the location.
Afterwards, a search warrant was carried out at the Hamilton residence, and a second one was carried out at a residence on Scholey Street in Mayfield, where investigators took a number of items for further forensic investigation.