UPDATE 3.30pm:
A man has been charged over an alleged assault on a supermarket worker in Newcastle.
The 36-year-old is accused of hitting a 52-year-old male employee of Coles at Wallsend Village with a shopping basket before fleeing the scene on Monday afternoon.
The 52-year-old suffered a cardiac arrest a short time after the incident and was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
His condition was upgraded to serious but stable on Tuesday.
The 36-year-old was arrested on University Drive at Birmingham Gardens on Monday night and was taken to the Mater Hospital under police guard because of a substance in his system.
He was released from hospital on Tuesday and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, assaulting a person with intent to resist/prevent apprehension, being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, having custody of knife in public place, break and enter of a house and stealing, and attempting to stalk/intimidate intend fear of harm (personal).
He has been refused bail and will face court on May 16.
EARLIER REPORT:
A man is in hospital under police guard after an alleged attack on a supermarket worker at Wallsend this week.
Police arrested the 36-year-old on University Drive at Birmingham Gardens on Monday night, before he was taken to the Mater Hospital.
The Herald understands he required hospital treatment due to a substance in his system.
The man is accused of attacking a 52-year-old employee of Coles at Wallsend Village shopping centre about 2.30pm on Monday.
The 52-year-old was assessed at the Kokera Street scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
He was unconscious when emergency crews arrived and NSW Ambulance told the Herald on Monday the man went into cardiac arrest a short time after the incident.
Police said on Tuesday the man's condition had improved and he was listed as serious, but stable.
The alleged attack remains under investigation, police said.
