The Port's top cop has praised the actions of members of the community who attempted to disarm a woman who allegedly injured five people, including her 5-year-old daughter, with a knife in Salamander Bay on Tuesday afternoon.
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Superintendent Craig Jackson, commander of the Port Stephens-Hunter Police District, said the public's intervention before arresting officers arrived at Salamander Bay Village where the alleged knife attack took place "probably prevented further offences".
"There are a number of members of the community that were attacked by this woman," Superintendent Jackson told media outside Raymond Terrace Police Station on Wednesday afternoon.
"They took actions before police arrived to lock this violent offender inside a grocery shop. I think the public have done really well to intervene and prevent further injuries."
Superintendent Jackson said the 26-year-old woman was known to police who were in the early stages of an investigation that would look into what motivated Tuesday afternoon's incident, and whether drugs and alcohol had played a factor.
The woman was charged by Port Stephens police with 11 offences late on Tuesday including four counts of armed with intent to commit indictable offence, three counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one count each of wound person intend to cause grievous bodily harm, affray, assault police officer in execution of duty and resist or hinder police officer in execution of duty.
She was due to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.
Superintendent Jackson said officers arrived at Salamander Bay Village "within minutes" of receiving reports of woman armed with a knife having stabbed a number of people.
It is understood the woman, allegedly armed with a knife, had been walking along Soldiers Point Road with her daughter about 5.40pm.
Police will allege that the woman got into the back-seat of a car that was stopped at the intersection of Scott Circuit, which was occupied by a 45-year-old man and his 15-year-old daughter.
The woman allegedly stabbed the man with the knife, which was covered by a protective sheath, causing minor lacerations to his shoulder.
The man attempted to drive away, and the woman got out of the car and walked with her child towards the Salamander Shopping Village.
Members of the public confronted the woman, including a man armed with a chair.
A 44-year-old man walked out of a grocery store and attempted to talk to the woman, however she allegedly lunged at the man, striking him in the chest and back with the knife, causing minor lacerations.
Police said that the sheath had been removed from the knife at this stage.
The woman then allegedly entered the store and was locked inside by staff and customers. Inside the store, the woman allegedly chased a 50-year-old man and stabbed him in the back.
Police said the woman then allegedly took hold of her 5-year-old daughter and stabbed at her head several times before dragging her throughout the store by her hair for a short time.
"The 5 year old suffered a number of wounds due to the actions of her mother, the offender," Superintendent Jackson said.
"You can only imagine what the trauma would be like. Thankfully that little girl has remained in hospital in a stable condition. She's in the care of family and community services."
Port Stephens police officers arrived and arrested the woman. During her arrest she allegedly punched a senior constable twice to the face.
Superintendent Jackson said the woman had been "very, very aggressive" when officers arrived at the scene and praised their actions to "deescalate the situation" quickly.
"Police tried to engage her in conversation then entered into a physical confrontation with her before they effected her arrest," he said.
"[It was] really good work by local police to affect the arrest with no further injury to members of the public."
Police said the woman allegedly suffered self-inflicted stab wounds to her head. Following her arrest, she was taken to the Mater Hospital in Newcastle for treatment and a mental health assessment.
The 5-year-old girl was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to several lacerations to her skull.
The other victims were taken to Tomaree Community Hospital where they were treated for their minor injuries.
Police allege all the victims were unknown to the woman.
Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
