Police have charged two men following an investigation into alleged death threats made against a serving officer in the Hunter Valley.
On Tuesday 26 August 2025, authorities were alerted to comments allegedly posted on social media that included direct threats to kill a police officer named in the posts.
Detectives from the Hunter Valley Police District, alongside the Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Terrorism Investigations Squad, launched an investigation.
About 6am on Tuesday 2 September 2025, officers stopped two vehicles in Merriwa. A 32-year-old man was arrested and taken to Muswellbrook Police Station, while a 52-year-old man was released at the scene.
During a search, police allegedly found 4.6 grams of cannabis, and further inquiries revealed the younger man’s driver’s licence had expired in February 2025. Police will also allege he sent a threatening message to a woman known to him.
The 32-year-old was charged with nine offences, including:
- Using a carriage service to threaten to kill (two counts)
- Sending a document threatening death or grievous bodily harm (two counts)
- Hinder or resist police in the execution of duty
- Fail to comply with a digital evidence access order direction
- Drive while licence cancelled
- Possess prohibited drug
- Stalk/intimidate with intent to cause fear of physical harm
He was refused bail and first appeared before Bail Division 2 Court on Wednesday 3 September 2025, where he was formally refused bail again to reappear before Scone Local Court on Wednesday 10 September 2025.
A short time later, detectives – assisted by the Public Order and Riot Squad – executed a search warrant at a Macartney Street home in Merriwa. Police allegedly seized mobile devices, cannabis plants, a gel blaster firearm, and military ordnances.
The following day, Wednesday 3 September 2025, a 52-year-old man was arrested in Denman. He was taken to Muswellbrook Police Station and charged with:
- Cultivate prohibited plant (not more than small quantity)
- Possess or use prohibited weapon without permit
- Possess unauthorised prohibited firearm
He was issued a court attendance notice and is due to face Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 23 September 2025.
Police confirmed that inquiries remain ongoing.