ONE of the region’s most wanted men has been captured in an early morning police operation in Armidale.
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Tane Chatfield has been refused bail in an out-of-sessions hearing in Armidale Local Court after he was pulled from a bedroom in a Drummond Ave home about 6am on Tuesday by Armidale detectives and uniformed police.
The 20-year-old was wanted by police in relation to alleged home invasions in Tamworth and Armidale and failed to front court twice, triggering warrants for his arrest.
“Acting on information, Armidale general duties police and criminal investigators attended a Drummond Ave home in the early hours of the morning,” New England Detective Inspector Ann Joy told The Leader.
“A 20-year-old man was located in a bedroom asleep and immediately arrested and taken back to Armidale Police Station.”
Strike Force Inga – an operation launched by local detectives to investigate a series of robberies in Armidale in recent weeks – charged Chatfield in connection to a home invasion on September 5.
Police will allege Chatfield was one of four armed offenders who forced their way into a Macdonald Dr home and threatened a couple who were inside with their baby.
The men, who were armed with firearms and knives, allegedly demanded items before stealing cash and jewellery.
Chatfield is the second man charged, and bail refused, in connection to the home invasion, and Detective Inspector Joy said detectives were continuing to investigate the incident and any possible links to other home invasions.
“This is the sixth arrest as part of Strike Force Inga,” she said.
“There is a lot of evidence that is currently being gathered and reviewed.”
In September, The Leader revealed an arrest warrant had been issued by Tamworth court for Chatfield’s arrest after he failed to appear to answer violent robbery charges.
Oxley detectives allege Chatfield was part of a gang who robbed and stabbed a 46-year-old father and his son during a violent home invasion in South Tamworth in July.
He is facing three charges including robbery in company causing wounding.
Last week, Chatfield was convicted in his absence of three weapon and drug offences by Magistrate Michael Holmes after he did not appear in court for a hearing on the charges, before a further warrant was issued.