It has been another busy week for the Richmond Police District in the last seven days.

Officers charged 45 individuals with 91 offences between January 8 and 14. Of these, 56 offences related to Domestic Violence offences - that's 61.5%, up from 35.6% on the previous week.

The top offences by number of charges:

• Contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (DV) - 12
• Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (DV) - 8
• Stalk/intimidate (DV) - 7
• Possess prohibited drug - 5
• Armed w/I commit indictable offence - 4

SIGNIFICANT ARRESTS:

1. A 35-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly leading police on a high-speed pursuit through South Lismore on 13 January 2026. The driver, who was on a suspended licence, failed to stop for a random breath test and reached speeds up to 130km/h before crashing into a ditch.

Officers rescued her from the vehicle and found drug-related items inside, which are being investigated further. After being released from hospital, she was charged with Drive Motor Vehicle while licence suspended – 2nd+ offence; Drive Recklessly/Furiously or Speed/Manner Dangerous – 1st offence; Police Pursuit – Not Stop – Drive Dangerously – 1st Offence.

She has been bail refused and will face Lismore Local Court on the 19 of January 2026.

2. On the 12th of January 2026, police arrested a 33-year-old West Ballina man after an alleged armed robbery attempt on the 10 January 2026, at a Mobil service station on River Street, Ballina.

The man allegedly stole items, threatened the console operator with scissors, and demanded cash before fleeing. Officers later identified him from CCTV and executed a search warrant at his home, locating the clothing worn during the incident and stolen goods. He was arrested and charged with Larceny and Robbery Armed With Offensive Weapon.

He will appear before the Ballina Local Court on the 12th of March 2026.

3. Police have charged a 21-year-old man following two separate incidents. In the first matter, the man allegedly attempted to break into a Goonellabah home in the early hours of 11 September 2025. He was captured on CCTV entering an enclosed alfresco area, damaging a flyscreen and attempting to access the residence while the occupants slept. The offender fled when confronted by occupants; however, forensic testing later linked him to the scene.

Police also investigated an alleged violent incident in East Lismore on the afternoon of 11 January 2026, where the same man is accused of threatening a relative with a knife, chasing them across the street and damaging a vehicle before fleeing. The knife was recovered nearby.

On 12 January 2026, officers located the man in North Lismore and arrested him without further incident. He has been charged with 2 x Aggravated Break and Enter w/I – knowing person there; Destroy or Damage Property; Face blackened/Disguised w/I indicatable offence; Common Assault (DV); Armed w/I Commit Indictable Offence; Destroy or Damage Property (DV). He will appear before the Lismore Local Court on the 19th of January and the 11th of March 2026.

4. Around 1:30pm on 11 January 2026, police responded to a disturbance at the Clyde Campbell Car Park in Lismore after a 45-year-old woman was heard screaming and smashing glass bottles inside the public toilets. When approached by police, the woman became aggressive, attempted to strike an officer, and damaged his identification.

She was arrested and charged for assaulting police, breaching bail by consuming alcohol and possession of a prohibited drug (cannabis).

She will appear before Lismore Local Court on 22 January 2026.

5. Around 11:40pm on 10 January 2026, security at the Illawong Hotel attempted to remove an intoxicated patron who became aggressive, attempted to strike a security officer with a glass, and violently resisted efforts to escort him out. The 35-year-old man fled the scene, crashed a bicycle, and was later located by police in a nearby vehicle, where he continued to resist arrest.

Oleoresin spray was deployed, where he was arrested and charged with Common Assault; Contravene Prohibition/Restriction in AVO (DV); Excluded person fail to leave premises when required and Hinder/Resist law enforcement officer in execution of duty.

He will appear before the Casino Local Court on the 22nd of January 2026.

6. Police have charged a 28-year-old man after a series of offences in Lismore and Goonellabah. On the 6th of January 2026, the man allegedly assaulted his father during an argument at Lismore Square before taking his father’s vehicle without consent and later crashing it.

On the 8th of January 2026, the man attended the Station Grocer in Goonellabah, where he was intoxicated, aggressive and had also stolen food.

He was arrested and charged with Assault Occasioning actual bodily harm (DV; Drive Motor Vehicle during Disqualification Period – 2nd+offence; Shoplifting; Take & Drive Conveyance w/o Consent of Owner.

He will appear before the Lismore Local Court on the 19th of January 2026.