A PAROLEE disqualified from driving for life has been arrested over the pursuit which claimed the life of Port Stephens Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson.
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The 34-year-old from Greta was expected to be charged on Monday night over two pursuits, including Saturday night’s chase which Sergeant Richardson was travelling to when his car left Allandale Road.
The suspect was arrested as he arrived for an appointment at Maitland on Monday afternoon..
He was taken to Maitland Hospital after complaining of injuries when he allegedly resisted arrest.
It was expected that he will be charged over the two pursuits – Sunday morning’s as well as another one last week – and the resist arrest count.
It is unclear whether he could later face any charges relating to Sergeant Richardson’s death.
His arrest came as Commissioner Andrew Scipione launched an appeal for Sergeant Richardson’s devastated family, including his police officer wife Margaret and their two young children.
“We've had a chance to meet with about 70 officers from this local command that were involved, have been touch or known Sergeant Richardson,” Commissioner Scipione said.
“It’s a very sad day; a day in which to talk about the importance of what we do as police.
“There are people in there that are feeling numb. There are certainly people that are very emotional.
“We expect them to be going through and struggling with all these things as we move into the next phase. But I've got to say, they're stoic.
“They're police, they're so matter of fact. They just get on with the job and at this stage they're a credit to the organisation and I'm sure the sergeant would have been very proud to have called them his friends.”
Sergeant Richardson was killed when the police car he was driving crashed into a tree at Allandale, in the Central Hunter Command, around 11.50pm on Saturday.
At the time, the sergeant had been driving to help officers who were engaged in a pursuit.
The former highway patrol officer was authorised to deploy road spikes and was racing to get ahead of the pursuit when he crashed.
The commissioner said Sergeant Richardson’s death had left an “enormous hole”.
“[He was a] wonderful policeman and an even better man,” he said.
“A man we should never forget. And the hole that he will leave, I don't think we will ever be able to fill it.”
NSW Police Legacy has established an appeal to help support the sergeant’s family.
“This family, this young family will be doing it tough for many years to come,” Commissioner Scipione said.
“Every cent that is raised will go to them and making sure they have a future, a strong future which is exactly what the sergeant would have wanted.”
To donate go to: geoffreyrichardson.gofundraise.com.au.
