A third man has been charged by Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives investigating the armed robbery of a hotel in the state's Hunter region earlier this year.
About 12.20am on Tuesday 25 January 2022, two masked men – one armed with a handgun and the other with a meat clever – entered a licensed premises on Main Road at Cardiff and threatened two employees before taking a cash register and fleeing.
Police were told they left in a blue Ford Falcon sedan, last seen heading east on Main Street.
Although shaken, the employees – a 52-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman – were not physically injured and contacted police.
Initial inquiries were conducted by officers attached to Lake Macquarie Police District before the matter was referred to detectives from the State Crime Command's Robbery and Serious Crime Squad under Strike Force Hawksview.
So far during the investigation, strike force detectives have charged two men – aged 32 and 33 – over their alleged roles in the incident. They remain before the courts.
Following further inquiries, strike force detectives – assisted by officers attached to Waratah Target Action Group (TAG) – attended a home at Edgeworth just before 1pm yesterday (Wednesday 23 March 2022).
On arrival, a 27-year-old man led police on a short foot pursuit and attempted to evade them by swimming through a nearby creek.
He was located hiding in nearby bushland a short time later, then arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station.
The man has since been charged with robbery while armed with dangerous weapon and four counts of drive motor vehicle during disqualification period.
Police will allege in court that the man was one of three responsible for the robbery of a hotel at Cardiff earlier this year.
The man has been refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today.
