A PAROLEE disqualified from driving for life has been arrested and charged for the pursuit which claimed the life of Port Stephens Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson on Saturday night.
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The 34-year-old man from Greta was charged with eight offences on Monday night, including the March 6 pursuit which Sergeant Richardson was travelling to when his car left Allandale Road.
The man was arrested as he arrived for an appointment in Maitland on Monday afternoon. He was taken to Maitland Hospital after complaining of injuries when he allegedly resisted arrest.
He was due to appear in Maitland Local Court on Tuesday.
It is unclear whether the man 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, in Raymond Terrace on Monday.
The commissioner met with Port Stephens officers who have been left reeling from the sergeant’s shock death.
“There are certainly people that are very emotional,” he said. “We expect them to be going through and struggling with all these things as we move into the next phase. 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. Direct deposit can be done through NSW Police Legacy Appeal, BSB 815000 Account: 282951.
