Community rally behind police in fugitive arrest

The Riverine Grazier’s Kimberly Grabham was caught up in last week’s manhunt, when the offender was taken into custody after hiding at her home. Image: Kimberly Grabham.

The community of Hay rallied behind police last Tuesday to execute the arrest of a young man, wanted on numerous offences.

And local police have responded with heartfelt thanks, extending their sincere gratitude to the people of Hay for their assistance in searching for the male offender and leading police to his whereabouts.

“The arrest could not have been possible without the help of the community,” Sergeant Sarah Lugsdin said.

“It was honestly one of the most amazing displays of community spirit I have ever seen in my career, with everyone running around with us, helping us to search for him and giving information to us.

“I just wanted to express my thanks.”

The 21-year-old man had 10 warrants outstanding including armed robbery and was arrested just after 6pm after a pursuit from Balranald to Hay.

Police from Western Plains Highway Patrol attempted to stop the white Great Wall utility at Balranald for a minor registration offence at about 2.50pm.

The vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated, continuing for 130 kilometres along the Sturt Highway to Hay.

With the assistance of Murrumbidgee Police District and Murray River Highway Patrol, road spikes were successfully deployed.

The vehicle continued into town where it stopped on Leonard Street with the male driver running away. His female passenger was arrested.

With numerous police resources and assistance from community members eager to see the man taken into custody, he was located hiding in a house on Balaclava Street where he was arrested and taken to Hay Police Station.

He was charged with 10 outstanding warrants (traffic offences, violence offences and a number of armed robberies) as well as fresh charges including never licensed person drive on road, police pursuit - not stop (Skye's Law), drive dangerously, drive under the influence of drugs and enter inclosed lands

He was refused bail to appear at Griffith Local Court last Wednesday.

The 18-year-old female was charged with not disclosing the driver’s identity and was granted conditional bail.

Police said it was community assistance during the search which ensured his timely arrest.

Tuesday post-dinner drama

By Kimberly Grabham.

As someone who finds the biggest excitement in their life on one end of a true crime podcast, hot milo in hand, recent events have proved a little overwhelming.

Hearing the cohort of police vehicles racing off in hot pursuit of the Great Wall utility, it was surreal to believe something like this had occurred in Hay.

However, like a pesky little spider, I had someone home to sweep the criminal that had decided to hide in my back room, out of my house and into the waiting arms of the police.

We live behind the public school, but nobody ever thinks that it will happen to them.

Even when there were reports of him running through the school, I was more concerned for the family members who live in the Piper Street area, such as my son.

Looking back on the incident, it has an incredibly ironic feel.

That was the day I had first experienced a different kind of journalism.

Racing out into my car, I spent over an hour that afternoon observing police doing their hard work, taking pictures for the Grazier, and trying to be at the right place to secure the scoop.

Seeing the cars in Leonard and Piper Streets, and the multitude of police canvassing the area, I was certain it would conclude but was waiting to find out where.

Mind reeling at the thought of the rumoured five or six armed individuals being in the near vicinity. In reality, it turned out to be one very evasive person.

After a time, I realised that this could go on for a long time, I had things to do at home, dinner to cook and a daughter to get ready for bed. Armed with pictures, a general concept of the goings-on, I went home to go about my nightly routine.

Later, eating dinner, I was sure I saw a shadow pass the kitchen window, but put it down to paranoia considering the excitement of the day.

Nevertheless, I asked my partner Davo to go and lock the front door.

Suddenly, one police officer appeared over the back fence, then two more.

Sending Davo out there to converse with them, I thought to myself at least we will have updated information about what is happening, thinking that I would be supremely glad when it is all over.

Heading out the front to find out what was happening, when he had not come in for a while, I heard him yell out “Kimberly” repeatedly, something that he never refers to me as.

Shortly after, I heard him yell, “I got him, I have him!”

I ran through the house, unlocked the laundry door, and looked aghast as the police were coming in, and took over from Davo.

We then went out the front, and saw a multitude of locals arriving, as relieved as we were no doubt that it was over.

David said the man was hiding underneath the table in that room, looked up at him, and motioned for Davo to be quiet.

People being told the story have laughed when told this part, imagine telling the pathologically loquacious Davo to be quiet.

“It was a bit of an eerie experience, considering he had been on the run all afternoon,” Davo said of the experience.

“I had mentioned to police that I had thought he definitely passed through our yard, as the gate leading in from the lane was open, and was never normally used.

As they came further into the yard, I suggested they check under the cars, and that I would check the back room, as I had checked it earlier, but not for an hour or more.

“That’s when I found him.

“We didn't know if it was true, if he had weapons or not but I definitely wasn't leaving him in our house one way or another he was going.”

As he was led out by the police, we noted that he had a white singlet on, instead of being shirtless as police had just told David less than half an hour beforehand.

We could only wonder if he had found one of my son’s white singlets and put that on.

After it had all died down, that’s when we discovered how he had ended up at our house.

He had been jumping fences throughout Maiden Lane, Cadell Street, and surrounds before fleeing into the ironically named Balaclava Street, where he was finally apprehended.

My daughter, not quite four, is still talking about the big hairy monster that was found in our house, but here’s hoping she will forget in time.

After the person was placed in cuffs and put in the back of the police vehicle, I sat down and could not stop laughing.

I think that laughing is my go-to reaction, and it needed time to settle.

My feeling was of utter irony; that I had been chasing him, in a way all afternoon. All I actually had to do was go home, cook dinner and wait. Such irony that he would choose a reporter’s house as his hiding place.

Barely sleeping that night, I tried to rely on the positive outcome instead of worrying, thinking of what could have been; if he had not been caught before nightfall, if Davo had not been around, what would have happened if he had decided he needed to break in and get the keys to my vehicle?

Using the experience to teach my daughter about stranger safety, and the immensely positive role that police play in our lives and welfare is a constructive take away from the experience.

Kind of sad, in a way, she still cannot be in a room on her own, needing patience and reassurance while she asks her questions and comes to terms with the experience.

Children need to know that while strangers can be quite scary, often strangers are just people we do not know.

Additionally, they need to know that police officers are people not to run away from, but run to in times of need.

I found it especially endearing, that the police answered her, when she was standing out the front asking questions such as, “Are you here to get the baddie?”, and “Did you catch all the baddies?”

With most things in a small town, it is always heartwarming to see locals there front and centre; regardless of where he was apprehended locals were not going to let it go.

Vastly different from bigger places where you largely go through life alone, the community spirit of Hay is one that will never die.

Here’s hoping that the only true crime creeping into life in the future is movies and podcasts, instead of it seeping into reality.