Mudgee, NSW: Man who allegedly drove his ute at officers before ploughing into a police station dies in custody days after his arrest
A man who allegedly drove his ute at officers before ploughing into the front of a country police station has died in custody.
Donny Hobbs, 67, was arrested after he rammed his white Land Cruiser into Mudgee police station in central western NSW on Friday afternoon.
He was charged with destroy or damage property with intent to endanger life and two counts of using an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.
Hobbs was also charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, driving recklessly or dangerously, and custody of a knife in a public place.
It is understood that he was then remanded into custody in the maximum security section of Bathurst Correction Facility where he died on Wednesday.
‘Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) is aware of a 67-year-old inmate who died at Bathurst Correctional Centre on Wednesday,’ a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
‘CSNSW and NSW Police are investigating the incident.
‘Any death in custody is immediately reported to the NSW Coroner and subject to a compulsory, rigorous public inquiry.’
Danny Hobbs, 67, was arrested after he rammed his ute into Mudgee police station in central western NSW on Friday afternoon
Pictured is the scene after Hobbs allegedly drove his white Land Cruiser ute into the station
The crash took place during a march for retiring Detective Senior Constable Scott Whale, who had spent 50 years in the force.
‘[The ute] smashed the whole front wall of the police station, cops came running out everywhere, pulling up everywhere,’ witness Kirtis Goldsmith told Nine News.
A man identified only as Michael said he was sitting inside the police station when the ute hit the building.
‘One of the constables grabbed the spikes as I came through the building. I was sitting on the chairs,’ he said.
‘I was lucky I was sitting there, I only got a bit of a scratch. I got it all checked out, I was all clear.’
Police were investigating whether Hobbs had allegedly targeted Detective Senior Constable Whale’s march.
More to come.
