UPDATE WEDNESDAY 3.25pm: A 31-year-old Jackass Flat man has been charged with more than 20 offences which occurred in and around Bendigo between January 18 and March 28.
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The charges include: Reckless conduct endanger serious injury; Theft of motor vehicle; Theft from motor vehicle; Criminal damage; Dangerous driving; Fail to report accident to police; Driving an unregistered motor vehicle; Fail to stop vehicle on police request; Driving an unregistered motor vehicle; Handling stolen goods; Possessing a prohibited firearm; Possessing an unregistered general category hand gun; Possessing a prohibited weapon.
He is expected to appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court this afternoon.
UPDATE WEDNESDAY 9am: A man arrested in a six-hour siege in Jackass Flat yesterday remains in police custody, although charges are yet to be laid.
The 31-year-old was arrested following the stand-off with police on Howard Street.
Police apprehended the man after he evaded arrest on Honeysuckle Street, Bendigo, on Monday.
UPDATE 7.10pm: Victoria Police has confirmed a 31-year old Jackass Flat man is in custody following a seven hour stand-off with police.
A statement released this evening, reads:
Police, including the Critical Incident Response Team, had been at the property since just after midday.
Today’s operation follows an incident on Honeysuckle Street, Bendigo about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon where a man was seen running from a stolen vehicle.
The man has been taken to Bendigo Police Station and will be interviewed by detectives in relation to a number of serious offences.
There were no serious injuries to any person involved.
There will be police activity in the area while the investigation is ongoing but people are able to return to their homes.
All roadblocks have been lifted.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
UPDATE 7pm: A police dog has bitten a woman, who was not believed to be connected to the stand-off. Ambulance Victoria has confirmed a woman in her 40s was taken to Bendigo Health.
UPDATE 6.30pm: Police have confirmed they entered the house on Howard Street and a man has been arrested and taken into custody.
There’s still more happening at the scene, with reports of screaming. Two ambulances are on scene, as a precaution.
UPDATE 6.20pm: There are reports of screams and loud bangs.
There is activity at the scene and police are on ladders surrounding a house.
UPDATE 6pm: More police are arriving on scene where a man known to authorities and with a violent criminal history is holed up in a house on Howard Street.
The operation is about to enter its sixth hour, as heavily armed officers surround the property and try to coax the man out.
UPDATE 5.30pm: Additional members of the Critical Incident Response Team have arrived on scene in a white transit van.
UPDATE 4.50pm: Police have driven a woman believed to be the man’s mother, through the roadblock.
The woman was earlier distraught at the roadblock, pleading with police to let her through, saying “I’m the only one he listens to, I’ll get him to come out’’.
It is believed the woman is assisting police negotiators.
UPDATE 3.45pm: Nearby resident Natalie Legg recorded the scene of the operation where heavily armed police are surrounding a man holed up in a Howard Street house.
The man is believed to be known to police and has a violent criminal history. The Bendigo Advertiser has chosen not to reveal his identity because of the judicial process, should he be taken into custody this evening.
The man has been seen in Bendigo several times in recent weeks, and reportedly with a gun.
UPDATE 3.30pm: Nearby resident Natalie Legg said she heard "people yelling at the man to come out" while she was stuck inside her house for about an hour before being told by police to leave the area and go somewhere safe.
Ms Legg said a police officer with a shotgun had asked if he could jump over her back fence, while another officer told her "it was the man who was running around with a gun yesterday".
She said she tried to keep her young daughter occupied until the police gave her the signal to leave.
"We just did some drawing and tried to keep quiet and calm and the man said 'You did a really good job, can you please put her in the car seat and I'm going to give you a signal and when I give the signal you can reverse your car out and I want you to take off up towards Jobs Gully Road'," she said.
"I said 'Is it the gunman from yesterday?' and he said 'Yeah, we tracked him down and found him'."
Ms Legg said she also saw two women being walked from the house by police.
You can hear more audio from the scene, here:
UPDATE 3.14pm: Victoria Police has released the following statement:
Police are currently outside a property in Jackass Flat where they are attempting to negotiate with a man.
A 31-year-old man is believed to be inside the Howard Street property alone.
Police, including the Critical Incident Response Team, have been at the property since just after midday.
Today’s operation follows an incident on Honeysuckle Street, Bendigo about 1.30pm yesterday afternoon where a man was seen running from a stolen vehicle.
The area has been cordoned off while police negotiate with the man.
Howard Street is currently blocked at Jobs Gully Road, Evergreen Boulevard and Eaglehawk-Neilborough Road.
The childcare centre in Jobs Gully Road can be accessed by the Averys Road end, while Epsom Primary School has not been impacted.
UPDATE 2.50pm: Epsom Primary School has notified parents of the roadblock and encouraged them to avoid the Goynes Road end of Howard Street for this afternoon’s pick up.
Children were taken inside early from lunch, and are not at risk.
A woman who was arrested after running through a roadblock earlier has been released.
UPDATE 2.35pm: The roadblock at Evergreen Waters has been moved to allow traffic in and out of the estate via Evergreen Blvd, but an active police operation is still underway.
UPDATE 2pm: Police are believed to be in contact with the man in the house.
A woman claiming to be the man’s mother has arrived at one of the roadblocks.
Another woman has been arrested after running through the roadblock and trying to access the property.
EARLIER: Police are conducting a major operation at Jackass Flat.
Howard Street is blocked to traffic and police are believed to be conducting a ‘planned operation’ with the Critical Incident Response Team, State Surveillance and the police dog squad.
It is believed they are attempting to arrest a person at house in Howard Street.
The Bendigo Advertiser understands the person is connected to a manhunt in central Bendigo yesterday and at Eaglehawk North last week.
Those who live nearby are not allowed to return to their homes.
Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area.
More to come.