A 34-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a dramatic siege in Cessnock, where he allegedly threatened to kill a woman with a weapon believed to be a firearm. The incident began about 2.30am on Sunday when the man allegedly forced entry into a woman's unit on North Avenue in the Hunter Valley town.
Police say the accused knew the female occupant and allegedly threatened to kill her with an object believed to be a firearm before assaulting her and leaving a short time later. Investigations led to tactically equipped police arresting the man about 4.30pm on Monday, with an armoured vehicle and heavily-armed officers deployed on Cooper Street.
The man has been charged with multiple domestic violence offences, including contravening a prohibition or restriction in an AVO, using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend, specially aggravated entering a dwelling with intent while armed with a dangerous weapon, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He is being held in custody and is scheduled to appear before the Bail Division Court on Tuesday.
Federal member for the Hunter Valley, Dan Repacholi, warned locals to avoid the area during the arrest, stating in a Facebook post that 'SWAT teams are on the ground.' A nearby shopping centre was closed while the police operation unfolded.
