newy.com.au – Three men have been arrested and weapons, drugs and cash allegedly seized during a Jesmond search warrant linked to an ongoing police investigation into unsafe and illegal behaviour at a large gathering in Mayfield earlier this month.
Police attached to Newcastle City Police District established Operation Horizon after officers were called to a park on Ingall Street, Mayfield, about 1pm on Sunday, 14 June, following reports of a large crowd. When police arrived, they found between 150 and 200 people in the park, while another 30 to 40 people were riding unregistered trail bikes in parkland and on surrounding streets.
Nearby streets were closed and traffic was redirected because of safety concerns. Two unregistered motorbikes were seized that day and are undergoing forensic examination.
As part of the investigation, three men were arrested at a Wallsend home on Friday, 19 June. Police said all three remain before the courts.
Detectives made further inquiries before attending a home in Jesmond about 1pm on Thursday, 25 June, where they executed a search warrant. During the search, police allegedly found and seized a slingshot, taser, knuckledusters, an extendable baton, a flick knife, fireworks, 1.13 grams of methamphetamine, 26.63 grams of cocaine, 250 millilitres of cannabis resin, 157 grams of cannabis leaf and $3500 cash.
Three men, aged 35, 32 and 30, were arrested at the home and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The 35-year-old man was charged over the Mayfield incident with five offences, including destroy or damage property, drive recklessly or in a manner dangerous, drive while disqualified, three or more people use violence cause fear, and riot. He was also charged with 21 unrelated offences, including 17 counts of driving while disqualified, break and enter with intent to steal, destroy or damage property, driving a conveyance taken without consent of the owner, and driving recklessly or in a manner dangerous.
The 30-year-old man was charged with three unrelated offences: aggravated break and enter with intent, cultivating a prohibited plant of less than or equal to a small quantity, and goods suspected stolen in or on premises. An outstanding arrest warrant was also executed for alleged domestic violence-related offences.
Both men were refused bail to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Friday.
The 32-year-old man was charged with 11 unrelated offences, including five counts of possessing or using a prohibited weapon without a permit, possessing, supplying or making an explosive for an unlawful purpose, two counts of supplying a prohibited drug in a quantity greater than indictable and less than commercial, two counts of possessing a prohibited drug, and recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime less than or equal to $5000.
He was granted strict conditional bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court on Thursday, 16 July.
Police said inquiries into the Mayfield gathering are continuing under Operation Horizon.
