A POLICE officer was knocked to the ground, two vehicles were stolen, and a pair of young teenage boys arrested - after a string of events at Kempsey and Crescent Head in the early hours of Tuesday.
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Officers attended a West Kempsey address at about 1am after a report was made that a Mazda utility had been stolen from that address.
Some three-and-a-half hours later, police responded to Crescent Head after reports of people acting suspiciously in the area.
At about 5am while patrolling Skyline Dr, police spotted the Mazda ute. As police approached, the vehicle reversed and took off - knocking an officer to the ground. The officer suffered minor hand and leg injuries.
A short time later police arrested a 13-year-old Kempsey boy.
At about 6am, police went to another West Kempsey address where they arrested a 14-year-old Kempsey boy, who had been apprehended by a member of the public.
Nearby, police then located the Mazda which was intact, and also a Toyota SUV which had sustained fire damage.
Checks revealed the Toyota had been stolen from a Crescent Head address, between 5.10am and 5.25am on Tuesday.
The 13-year-old boy has been charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner. He was granted strict conditional bail by police to appear at Kempsey Children's Court on September 8.
The 14-year-old boy has been charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner and damage property by fire/explosives. He was refused bail by police and appeared later in the day at Kempsey Children's Court, where he was granted conditional bail to reappear on September 8.
A 12-year-old Kempsey boy will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act for the offence of be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
Mid North Coast Police continue investigations to identify a number other people connected with these incidents. Police are seeking the assistance of the Crescent Head community, particularly those who may have CCTV footage from between 4am and 6am on Tuesday. People should contact Kempsey Police on 6561-6199 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.