A man will appear in court today after being charged following a siege situation in Orange, during which a man was allegedly detained inside a unit yesterday.
About 7pm (Wednesday 17 April 2019), a man knocked on the door of a unit on Garema Road, and spoke to the two occupants, aged 18 and 59.
The man produced a knife and threatened the two occupants, who were not known to him.
The older man fled the unit and notified police. The younger man could not escape and was allegedly detained by the armed man.
Officers from Central West Police District established a perimeter and began negotiations.
Just after 11pm, the unit caught alight after allegedly being deliberately set on fire.
The younger man was able to run out of the unit and escape the blaze.
The 27-year-old walked out of the unit armed with a hammer and was tasered by officers and arrested.
Fire fighters extinguished the blaze with the unit significantly damaged.
Both occupants were uninjured.
The Bourke man was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with two counts of take/detain with intent to obtain advantage, damage property by fire with intent to injure, destroy / damage property with intent to endanger life, use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention and resist officer in execution of duty.
He has been refused bail to appear at Orange Local Court today (Thursday 18 April 2019).
