About 3.45pm, Port Stephens-Hunter Police District officers stopped a man on Thursby Street, Tenambit, and observed him holding something in the front of his jumper.

When officers asked him to show them what he was holding, the man was observed placing a small plastic bag into his mouth before chewing it, swallowing it and attempting to leave the scene, police said.

The 38-year-old man was arrested when he allegedly became violent, resisting police and biting one senior constable on his right arm.

The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, and rider not wear approved bicycle helmet/fitted/fastened.

He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.

The senior constable was taken to Maitland Hospital for treatment.

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