A man has been charged with assaulting police after breaches of the Public Health Act were detected in the Southern Highlands yesterday.
About 12.15pm (Thursday 1 July 2021), officers attached to The Hume Police District attended a food store on Bowral Street, Bowral, following reports that staff and customers were not complying with Public Health Orders.
Police observed employees and customers not wearing a face mask while inside the premises and spoke with the manager, a 62-year-old woman.
She stated she had no intentions of complying with the current orders and was arrested after refusing to provide police her details.
A female customer, aged 61, entered the store not wearing a face mask. Police requested the woman put a mask on or leave the store, but she refused.
The employee intervened, demanding police leave and both women were arrested.
As officers escorted the women outside to a police vehicle, they were confronted by a man who yelled at officers before pulling down the face mask of a sergeant.
The 63-year-old man was also arrested and all three were taken to Southern Highlands Police Station.
The man was charged with assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty and incite to resist/hinder police officer in execution duty.
He was given conditional bail to appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 3 August 2021.
The two women were later released with the younger woman issued a $200 PIN for not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.
Further charges and infringements are expected with inquiries continuing into additional Public Health Order breaches.
In separate incidents, two barbers have each been issued a $1000 PIN after continuing to operate in breach of the Public Health Order.
About 4pm, officers from South Sydney Police Area Command attended a barber shop on Maloney Street, Eastlakes, and spoke with the barber, a 38-year-old man.
About 6.30pm, officers from Campsie Police Area Command attended a barber shop on Beamish Street, Campsie, and spoke with the barber, a 30-year-old man, who was in the process of cutting a customer’s hair.
The stores were operating in breach of the Public Order Health Order, with customers receiving hair cuts at the time.
Both men were issued a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction (other than a
face covering breach) – individual. A customer at the Campsie store was also issued a $200 PIN for not wear fitted face covering when in indoor area of retail/business premises.
Further, a man and woman – both aged 19 – from Sydney have each been issued a $1000 PIN after they were refused entry to a zoo in Dubbo yesterday. Staff immediately notified police after they established the couple had travelled from Sydney and visited a number of regional locations since Sunday 20 June.
Police attended the zoo and escorted them to a COVID-19 testing facility, before they were instructed to immediately return to Sydney and isolate.
In total, 75 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 46 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
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.
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