Outback Wrangler death investigation: Wife of NT police officer Neil Mellon takes to Facebook

The wife of a senior Northern Territory police officer has shared a ruthless Facebook post about her ‘best friend’ just a day after her husband was arrested.

Sandi Mellon, an NT Police officer was stunned last week when her colleagues arrived at the Darwin home she shares with her husband Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Mellon and their three children last week.

Mr Mellon, 47, was arrested moments after he turned up to work at Darwin Police Station on Thursday morning with his colleagues handcuffing the top cop at the station.

Following his arrest, Mr Mellon was on Friday charged with 31 offences, including attempting to pervert the course of justice, stealing and unlawfully accessing data.

His charges also relate to weapons, firearms and wildlife offences, as well as alleged destruction of evidence in relation to a major crash investigation. 

On the same day Mr Mellon was charged, his wife posted a photo of her and her ‘best friend’ in matching t-shirts to Facebook with a scathing message.

‘See this woman here, she is my best friend – we did everything together, we have been on lots (of) holiday and camping trips as a family,’ Mrs Mellon wrote.

‘Said we were sisters, family. Been joined at the hip for three years…’ 

Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to publish the rest of the post.

More than 100 people had reacted to the post and it had garnered more than 60 comments before it was deleted. 

Another photo on Mrs Mellon’s Facebook page show the pair on a double date and underneath she wrote ‘best buds’. 

Mr Mellon’s charges are believed to be related to an investigation into a helicopter crash that claimed the life of Outback Wrangler star Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson.

Mr Wilson, one of the stars of the National Geographic television show, was harnessed 30m from a helicopter on February 28, collecting crocodile eggs in West Arnhem Land when the aircraft crashed.

The 34-year-old father-of-two was killed in the accident. 

It’s understood Mr Mellon flew to the scene after the crash and retrieved Mr Wilson’s body while off duty and before other emergency services arrived, The Australian reported.

The pilot, Sebastian Robinson, 28, suffered critical injuries in the crash but survived.

Outback Wrangler is a hit adventure television series filmed in remote Top End locations that airs in more than 90 countries. 

Mr Wilson was one of three cast members along with host and presenter Matt Wright, and Jono Brown.

Mr Wilson had been dangling below the Robinson R44 helicopter on a sling to collect the eggs before tragedy struck.

The father of two’s body was found 40 metres from the main wreckage at the King River crash site, a preliminary Air Transport Safety Bureau report released in April said.

Mr Wilson was attached to the line using a harness so he could harvest eggs from difficult to access crocodile nests in swampy areas while the helicopter hovered above.

The crashed helicopter and its crew was one of three collecting eggs on the day. It was found by one of the other crews after it failed to respond to radio calls.

Outback Wrangler host, presenter Matt Wright has previously said ‘his family and team (were) absolutely devastated by the tragic accident’.

‘(They) are heartbroken by the loss of their best friend and highly respected colleague Chris ‘Willow’ Wilson,’ a statement issued by The Fordham Company a day after the crash said.

The helicopter’s main rotor blade had struck and cut through a tree trunk multiple times before the aircraft hit the ground.

‘Initial assessment indicated the engine had stopped prior to the helicopter colliding with the ground.’

NT Police Assistant Commissioner Michael White said some of Mr Mellon’s charges related to a major crash investigation that began in February this year.  

He said police will allege Mr Mellon’s actions ‘undermined the integrity’ of the NT police force and community.

‘It’s important to recognise that the behaviour of this officer is going to be before the courts and the matter is in relation to the damage and mistrust of his position within the police force,’ he told reporters on Friday. 

‘It is a very disappointing, upsetting and frustrating event that has occurred and the wellbeing of all our officers is paramount in this circumstance.’ 

Mr Mellon has been suspended without pay. Support has been provided by the police force to him and his family. 

The 47-year-old joined the state’s police force in 1995 and was the former officer in charge of the Territory Response Group (TRG), where he is one of the longest serving members, having served 18 years.

He was even called upon to protect the Dalai Lama and Barack Obama when they visited Australia. 

Mr Mellon is currently working as the Darwin watch commander and also worked in Alice Springs and at the Police Training College.

He was gifted an Australian Police Medal in 2019 as part of the Australia Day Honours.

Former police commissioner Reece Kershaw said at the time he’d been involved in various tactical operations including body retrievals and shootings.

‘He has encountered distressing, stressful and dangerous situations during his career yet acts bravely, and above and beyond what is expected of members of the force,’ Mr Kershaw said. 

He was also awarded for ‘outstanding professionalism, bravery and exceptional operational support’ in 2016 for his work in rescuing a tourist who fell from Uluru. 

Mr Mellon has been released on bail and is due to face court on September 22.