Teen pleads guilty to multiple offences after police pursuit through Wagga

A Riverina man remains in custody following an arrest during a statewide police operation. NSW Police Force.

A Yerong Creek teenager has pleaded guilty to multiple charges relating to dangerous driving following a police pursuit through the suburbs of Wagga Wagga on 12 July.

18-year-old Riley Haisell fronted Wagga Wagga Local Court on 24 July, charged with 19 offences, including not stopping during a police pursuit, speeding, reckless driving, not displaying ‘L’ plates, driving unaccompanied in an unregistered vehicle, having custody of a knife in a public place and assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty.

Haisell pleaded guilty in front of Magistrate Rebecca Hosking to all but one charge, pleading not guilty to allegedly assaulting a police officer in the execution of duty.

Haisell was among the 600 people arrested across the state during Operation Amarok III, a four-day police operation targeting domestic and family violence.

Officers were conducting patrols in Wagga Wagga just before midday on 12 July and saw Haisell, a wanted man, driving a vehicle with unauthorised registration plates.

Part of a statewide operation this month. Photo: NSW Police.

When he failed to stop on Olympic Highway, police began a pursuit, travelling through Ashmont, Glenfield Park, Mount Austin and Tolland before the vehicle stopped in Parkhurst Street, Tolland, and the driver fled on foot.

Police allege the Riverina teen spat during the arrest and that they found a large knife in the car.

Magistrate Hosking set his next court date on 4 September for sentencing at Wagga Wagga Local Court. Haisell will remain in custody until his sentencing.

Operation Amarok III, an intelligence-based policing strategy led by each region’s Domestic Violence High-Risk Offender Teams (DVHROT), involved officers from all police area commands and police districts in NSW, as well as various proactive and specialist units.

Riley Haisell was among 600 people arrested across the state during a four-day police operation targeting domestic and family violence in July. Photos: NSW Police.

More information on how NSW Police Force is responding to domestic and family violence can be found on their website.

Victims of domestic and family violence can find information about support services by contacting or visiting 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Reports of domestic and family-related crime or abuse can be made by contacting or attending your local police station. In an emergency, contact triple zero (000).

Anyone with information relating to domestic and family-related violence is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.