Charges after major police operation in NSW Hunter region

Tactical police swarmed the main street of Cessnock, about 25 miles west of Newcastle, this afternoon, a day after a man allegedly attacked and threatened to kill a woman.

Witnesses first saw several Bearcat police vehicles around an apartment complex near Cooper Street and North Avenue this afternoon.

They were called to the apartment earlier on Sunday around 2:30 a.m. and reported that a man who knew the woman who lived there had forced entry and allegedly threatened her with an object, believed to be a firearm.

“After allegedly attacking the woman and threatening to kill her, the man left a short time later,” police said in a statement released this evening.

Police arrested the man at the North Avenue unit around 4:30 p.m. after the streets were closed and a perimeter was set up.

Heavily armed officers were seen pointing their firearms at the building before a number of people entered and went to the top floor.

The 34-year-old was charged with breaching an AVO, using a carriage service to threaten, harass or offend, entering a dwelling with intent while armed with a dangerous weapon and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV).

He was refused bail to appear before the Bail Division – Court 2 tomorrow.

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