Police have charged a third man in relation to an alleged kidnapping in Muswellbrook earlier in the year.
It’s understood, shortly before 4am on Friday 21 March, a 25-year-old was compelled to stop his vehicle on the New England Highway by a group of five males in a silver Subaru Impreza.
He was then removed from his car before being assaulted and forced into the Subaru and driven to Tindale Street.
Police believe the Subaru remained there for some time.
It then headed to Denman or a surrounding rural area.
A short time later, a 35-year-old man was stopped outside the same address in Tindale Street, when a Holden Commodore utility crashed into the front of his vehicle.
He was allegedly approached and threatened by an occupant of the ute, before he drove away without injury.
Officers claim the incidents are linked.
Police later found the 25-year-old man at the Muswellbrook railway station with facial injuries.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being conveyed to John Hunter Hospital.
He’s since been released.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Sanderston to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incidents.
Following extensive inquiries and a public appeal for information, officers executed search warrants at two homes in Scone and Muswellbrook on Wednesday 7 May.
They located a replica firearm, electronics, illegal tobacco products, prohibited drugs and a range of property believed to be stolen.
Two men – aged 34 and 21 – were subsequently taken to Muswellbrook Police Station where they were charged.
They remain before the courts.
On Monday 12 May, detectives also arrested a 38-year-old man at Muswellbrook.
He was charged with take person in company with intent to commit a serious indictable offence, stalk/intimidate – intend fear physical etc harm (personal) and sexually touch another person without consent.
He’ll appear before Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 13 May.
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