newy.com.au – A 41-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy have been charged and refused bail after an alleged police pursuit in Newcastle involving a stolen Mercedes that was later found on fire.
Police allege an officer was struck by a car door as the man reversed while officers tried to remove the driver and passenger at a Kotara shopping centre on Monday morning. The Mercedes also allegedly crashed into a police car.
The officer suffered minor injuries and did not require further medical treatment.
Police said the Mercedes station wagon, a handbag and car keys had been stolen during a break-in at a home in Sea Scape Drive, Redhead, on Sunday, 25 October. Officers attached to Operation Soteria began investigating and went to the Kotara shopping centre about 9am on Monday after receiving information that the vehicle was there.
Officers found the Mercedes in the car park and approached its occupants before the alleged reversing incident. Police said the man then failed to stop, prompting a pursuit that officers ended shortly afterwards because of safety concerns.
A short time later, police were called to reports of a car fire in Hill Street, North Lambton. Fire and Rescue crews extinguished the blaze, and the Mercedes was seized for forensic examination.
Police arrested the man at a home in Station Street, Wickham, about 3.30pm on Monday and took him to Newcastle Police Station. The boy was arrested at a motel on Newcastle Road, Jesmond, about 4.20pm and taken to Waratah Police Station.
The man faces eight charges, including failing to stop during a police pursuit and driving dangerously, using an offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, aggravated damage to a motor vehicle by fire or explosion, driving a vehicle taken without the owner’s consent and two counts of driving while disqualified.
The boy faces 13 charges, including failing to stop during a police pursuit and driving recklessly, aggravated break and enter, property damage by fire or explosion, two counts of driving a vehicle taken without the owner’s consent and breach of bail.
Both are due in court on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The man is scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court 2 and the boy before a children’s court.
