Month: August 2020

A man has been charged after allegedly assaulting a police officer as he was being arrested for trying to evade a NSW-Victorian checkpoint on the weekend.
Three police officers and two Defence Force personnel were manning a border crossing at Federation Way at Corowa when a car, with three people on board, was stopped about 4.50am on Saturday (1 August 2020).
The 22-year-old female driver and a 25-year-old woman in the front-passenger seat presented valid permits and ID; however, police allege a man travelling in the back seat provided false information.
After checks revealed the man was wanted on seven outstanding warrants – including a revocation of parole warrant – the 21-year-old man attempted to run from the vehicle, allegedly punching a senior constable in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Police and Defence Force officers intervened and arrested the man after a short struggle.
He was taken to Corowa Hospital due to concerns about the effects of suspected drug ingestion. Officers seized drug paraphernalia when the vehicle was searched.
The driver returned a positive roadside drug test for methamphetamine and had her licence suspended for 24 hours. Any further action will depend on the outcome of the secondary testing.
After the man was released from hospital, he was taken to Corowa Police Station where he was charged with assault police in execution of duty, and resist officer in execution of duty.
He was also charged with the outstanding warrants.
The Ashmont man was refused bail to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday (5 August 2020).
The senior constable has been treated for facial swelling and bruising; all officers were checked and released.
 

A woman has been charged with deliberately coughing on a police officer in the state’s south west.
About 11.15am yesterday (Sunday 2 August 2020), officers from Riverina Police District attended a home on Tarakan Avenue, Ashmont, following reports of a domestic violence incident.
On arrival, police arrested a 27-year-old man outside the home, before attempting to speak with a 24-year-old woman.
The woman allegedly told the man to cough on police and informed attending officers that they were both waiting on results of a COVID-19 test.
The woman then allegedly moved in front of a male constable and coughed deliberately in his face, twice, before letting two large dogs off their leads.
The man was released pending further inquiries and the pair was permitted to attend a COVID-19 pop-up clinic for testing.
As a result of the incident, the two officers were taken for COVID-19 testing. They have since returned negative results.
The woman has since been charged with not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19, stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm and resist or hinder police officer in the execution of their duty.
She was granted conditional bail and is due to appear in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Wednesday 16 September 2020.

Police have issued a total of 16 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for non-compliance with COVID-19 Public Health Orders across the weekend.
In addition to the nine people fined following indoor gatherings at East Jindabyne and Maroubra that exceeded the 20-person limit, as reported yesterday (Sunday 2 August 2020), police issued another seven PINs following eight incidents of failing to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9-COVID-19.
From 5.30am on Friday (31 July 2020), officers from Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling Hyde Park South and monitoring a group who had gathered for an unauthorised public assembly. When the group exceeded 20 people about 11am, a move-on direction was issued to the spokesman before formal directions under the Public Health Act were issued to each participant. After the spokesman refused to comply with directions and attempted to incite the rest of the group, he was arrested. He then refused to provide his details and was subsequently taken to Day Street Police Station. The 47-year-old man was identified and issued with a $1000 PIN.
At a second, yet unrelated, unauthorised public assembly at a university at Camperdown, officers from Inner West Police Area Command were monitoring a group from about 11.30am on Friday. After numbers in the group increased to about 40 people, police issued a formal direction under the Public Health Act. Two men, aged 34 and 38, failed to comply with the move-on direction and were each issued a $1000 PIN.
Just after midday on Friday, officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command attended a hotel on Scott Street, Liverpool, to speak with a 44-year-old woman after it was determined she provided false compassionate reasons on her entry permit to travel into NSW from Victoria. Police informed the woman her application had been rejected, her permit was invalid and directed her to return to Victoria. She was also issued a $1000 PIN.
As part of proactive compliance operations, officers from the Mid North Coast Police District attended a licensed premises on East Street, Crescent Head, about 7.30pm on Friday. Police spoke with the male licensee about their COVID-Safe Plan and issues raised during a previous inspection. While conducting the walk-through, the officers noted that the premises was full, but only nine names were recorded on the register. Further, tables and chairs had not been removed to ensure physical distancing and it was not being observed.
The 50-year-old man was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
About 2.45am on Saturday (1 August 2020), officers from Tweed/Byron Police District were called to a house party on Melaleuca Drive, Mullumbimby Creek. Police saw a large number of people inside and outside the house, none of whom were appropriately physically distanced. The 53-year-old male resident told police he was aware there were too many attendees but wasn’t worried because he believes Coronavirus is just a flu. The group was dispersed, and he was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.
Officers from Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were patrolling the Springdale area on Saturday, when they stopped a vehicle on Burley Griffin Way just before 11am. Checks revealed the 24-year-old female driver was disqualified from driving and was in breach of her self-isolation requirements as she had returned from Victoria on 20 July. Police issued the woman with a $1000 PIN and a Court Attendance Notice for drive while disqualified before directing her to return home to complete the self-isolation period.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Nine people will be issued Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for non-compliance with COVID-19 Public Health Orders after police dispersed two indoor gatherings across the state that exceeded the 20-person limit.
About 11pm yesterday (Saturday 1 August 2020), officers from Monaro Police District were called to resort on Kosciuszko Road, East Jindabyne, following a noise complaint.
Police were directed to a room where loud music was being played and discovered 27 people inside. Only eight were actually staying at the resort.
Seven men – aged 31, 29, 26, two aged 27 and two aged 24 – and a 29-year-old woman, will be issued with $1000 PINs for failing to comply with a ministerial direction
The remaining people inside the room were moved-on after their details were taken by police.
In a separate incident, officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were called to a unit on Anzac Parade, Maroubra, just before 1am today (Sunday 2 August 2020), after reports of a loud gathering.
Police arrived to find a large group of people at the unit, in excess of the 20-person limit, and were told it was an after-party for an earlier birthday celebration.
The party was shut down, with attendees moved-on from the location.
The resident, a 29-year-old man, will be issued a PIN for not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 COVID-19.
Meanwhile, emergency services were called Mosman overnight due to concerns that two teenage girls needed medical attention after attending an unauthorised party.
Officers from North Shore Police Area Command and NSW Ambulance paramedics were called to Whiting Beach, off Athol Wharf Road, shortly before 9pm (Saturday 1 August 2020), after two girls were found unconscious.
The girls, believed to be aged 16, were taken by paramedics to Royal North Hospital where they were treated for the effects of alcohol.
Fire and Rescue NSW officers were called to assist with the retrieval as the site had to accessed by about 50 steps down to the beach.
Police were told between 20-40 young people had been gathered drinking on the beach before the girls were found unconscious.
Many of the partygoers had left the scene before emergency services arrived; however, police inquiries continue into the party, which is believed to have breached current COVID restrictions.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A police officer has been assaulted during the arrest of a man wanted on seven outstanding warrants, when he tried to evade a NSW-Victorian border checkpoint this morning.
Three police officers and two Defence Force personnel were manning a border crossing at Federation Way at Corowa when a car, with three people on board, was stopped about 4.50am today (Saturday 1 August 2020).
The 22-year-old female driver and a 25-year-old woman in the front-passenger seat presented valid permits and ID; however, police allege a man travelling in the back seat provided false information.
After checks revealed the man was wanted on seven outstanding warrants – including a revocation of parole warrant – the 21-year-old man attempted to run from the vehicle, allegedly punching a senior constable in the face, knocking him to the ground.
Police and Defence Force officers intervened and arrested the man after a short struggle.
He has been taken to Corowa Hospital due to concerns about the effects of suspected drug ingestion. Officers seized drug paraphernalia when the vehicle was searched.
The driver returned a positive roadside drug test for methamphetamine and has had her licence suspended for 24 hours. Any further action will depend on the outcome of the secondary testing.
Police are waiting for the man to be released from hospital.
The senior constable has been treated for facial swelling and bruising; all officers have now been checked at hospital and released.