Two men allegedly used a tomahawk and a rifle to abduct a boarder from a South Albury "halfway-house" before taking their victim to Mungabareena Reserve and assaulting him.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Security footage from the Palms Boarding House shows two men, who were arrested on Monday, taking a 24-year-old man from the David Street property about 5.30am on Sunday morning.
One of the alleged offenders points a weapon at the 24-year-old's head.
Building supervisor Shane Currie said another boarder at the property let the two men in.
"They had a rifle and they took one of the visitors," he said.
"He was here for about two months ... he was waiting for a place to go into rehab."
Police allege the victim was taken to Mungabareena Reserve where he sustained injuries to the upper body, before escaping into the Murray River where a fisherman saw him and contacted police.
Murray River Police Detective Acting Inspector Chris Wallace said with the assistance of Victorian police, a 22-year-old man and a 24-year-old man were arrested at different properties in Wodonga on Monday.
"The victim we will allege has been hit with the tomahawk ... to his upper body," he said.
"During the arrest of the 24-year-old man, police recovered a firearm and a tomahawk which we will allege were used.
"It's a serious offence."
The victim "didn't sustain life-threatening injuries" and was treated at Albury Hospital on Sunday.
Mr Currie said nothing like this had happened at the property in the 12 months that he has been managing it.
"Nothing as serious as this, usually it's just scuffles and drunken fights, it's concerning," he said.
"All these people are sent from the Department of Family and Community Services.
"It's a halfway house; they come here while they're waiting for a place.
"If there's trouble we evict the person.
"We don't tolerate drug use or that kind of behaviour.
"We're trying to fix this place up, it's improved over the last few years."
An extradition request was being organised on Tuesday with the Wodonga Magistrates Court so that the two alleged offenders could appear in Albury Court.
It's understood that the three men are known to each other.
Earlier:
A man who was allegedly abducted from his South Albury unit at knife-point has escaped into the Murray River, where a passing fisherman saw him and contacted police.
Murray River Police Detective Acting Inspector Chris Wallace said the 24-year-old was forced from his address about 5.30am on Sunday morning by two men who were armed with a rifle and a tomahawk.
"He was taken to the Mungabareena Reserve where he was assaulted," he said.
"He made good his escape into the river and was sighted by a fisherman - police were called.
"Yesterday with the aid of Victorian police, NSW police were able to arrest a 22-year-old man at an address in Wodonga around lunchtime, and then about 5pm were able to arrest a 24-year-old man for the offences committed on the Sunday.
"During the arrest of the 24-year-old man, police recovered a firearm and a tomahawk which we will allege were used."
Detective Acting Inspector Wallace said the gun was thankfully not used, but the victim required treatment at Albury Hospital on Sunday.
"The victim we will allege has been hit with the tomahawk ... to his upper body," he said.
"He didn't sustain life-threatening injuries."
It's understood the three men are known to each other.
"It's a serious offence," Detective Acting Inspector Wallace said.
IN OTHER NEWS:
"Between us at NSW police and Victorian police we've acted quite swiftly to get these people into custody and put them before the court."
An extradition request was being organised on Tuesday from the Wodonga Magistrates Court so that the two alleged offenders could appear in Albury.