A tense five-hour police siege in the Illawarra suburb of Warrawong has concluded with the arrest of an armed man who barricaded himself inside a home.
Dramatic Standoff on Jane Avenue
The incident began just after 2pm on Friday, January 2, 2026, when police arrived at a house on Jane Avenue, Warrawong, to arrest a 58-year-old man. According to a NSW Police spokesman, the man allegedly refused to comply with officers' directions and instead barricaded himself inside the property while armed with a weapon.
In response, police immediately established a safety perimeter around the residence and called for significant backup. The scene was soon swarmed by specialist units, including the elite Tactical Operations Unit, the Dog Unit, and the Public Order and Riot Squad. Negotiators were also deployed in an attempt to communicate with the man and bring about a peaceful resolution.
Specialist Resources on Standby
The prolonged operation saw a massive emergency services presence on the quiet Warrawong street. Special operations paramedics, equipped with ballistic vests and helmets, were positioned nearby alongside crews from Fire and Rescue NSW, all prepared for any potential escalation.
After hours of negotiations and a tense wait for local residents, the standoff was finally resolved at approximately 7:40pm on the same day. Police confirmed the 58-year-old man was arrested without incident, bringing the dramatic siege to a safe conclusion.
Multiple Charges Laid After Hospital Assessment
Following his arrest, the man was taken to a local hospital under police guard for a medical and psychological assessment. He was discharged from hospital on Saturday, January 3, and transported to Wollongong Police Station for questioning.
He was subsequently charged with a total of ten serious offences. The charges include:
- Common assault
- Aggravated break and enter
- Armed with intent
- Three counts of stalk/intimidate
- Use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention
- Two counts of intimidate police officer
- Hinder/resist officer
The man was refused bail and was scheduled to appear before the Bail Division Court on Sunday, January 4. The successful resolution of the incident without injury to police, the public, or the man himself has been credited to the coordinated response of the multiple specialist police units involved.
