Police have charged four people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 13 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:
- A man will appear in court today after allegedly spitting on a police officer in the Sutherland Shire overnight. About 9.30pm yesterday (Tuesday 21 April 2020), officers attended a home in Caringbah after receiving reports of a loud argument taking place. It’s alleged that while police were arresting a 37-year-old man, he attempted to grab the gun of one of the officers. While in the cells of Sutherland Police Station, the man intentionally hit his head against the custody door several times. He was taken to hospital as a precaution, where he became abusive towards police and hospital staff. After being cleared of injury the man allegedly spat on a police officer as he was being escorted back to the police vehicle. He has been charged with not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19, two counts of assaulting police, and breach of ADVO. The man is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court today (Wednesday 22 April 2020).
- Just before 6.30pm yesterday, officers attached to Liverpool City Police Area Command attended Carriage Street in Austral after receiving reports of people congregating. Police saw two men run from the scene, before one of the men was arrested at a property on Fifth Avenue. The 21-year-old man from Hinchinbrook was taken to Liverpool Police Station, where inquiries revealed he had been issued a PIN for not complying with the Health Act on Tuesday 14 April 2020. After telling police he was “going for a run” when he attempted to evade police, he was charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Monday 13 July 2020.
- About 2.45am yesterday, officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command attended Yurong Street, Darlinghurst, following reports of people graffitiing a wall. Officers saw a man and woman standing in front of the spray-painted wall wearing face masks. The pair initially fled but were stopped and spoken to. A search of their belongings allegedly uncovered bolt cutters, a large texta, and gloves and face masks stained with paint. It’s alleged the man also committed several other graffiti offences nearby over the past month. He was arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station, where he was charged with possess graffiti implement and four counts of destroy or damage property. After claiming that they were exercising, the man was also charged with not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19, while his companion was given a PIN. The man was refused bail and is due to appear before Central Local Court today.
- About 11.45am yesterday, officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command’s Proactive Crime Team observed what they believed to be a drug deal take place on Clarence Street in the CBD. As police approached, a man ran from the scene and was arrested after a brief struggle. Officers searched the 21-year-old man, seizing cash. Police were also told by a passerby that the man had buried something in a nearby pot plant and when officers checked, they located resealable bags containing cannabis. Checks revealed the man had previously been warned about breaching the Public Health Act. He was arrested and taken to Day Street Police Station, where he was charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, resist officer in execution of duty, deal with proceeds of crime, and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He was granted conditional bail and is due to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on 24 June 2020. After police seized drugs from the other party – a 62-year-old woman – she was charged with possess prohibited drug and warned in relation to the Public Health Act.
Yesterday’s PINs include:
- About 7.45pm, officers from Lake Illawarra were patrolling when they observed a Mazda CX5 parked in a car park on Cowper Street, Port Kembla. Police spoke to the occupants – a 40-year-old Barrack Heights woman and a 46-year-old Werrington man – who both provided no reasonable excuse for not complying with ministerial directions. Checks revealed the woman was issued a warning on Thursday 9 April 2020 and she was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN. The man was issued a warning.
- Just before 4.30pm, officers from Wollongong Police District stopped a 17-year-old boy on Lawrence Street, Woonona. He told police he was visiting a friend because he was “bored” and had “nothing else to do.” The teen has previously been issued PINs on Monday 6 April 2020 and Wednesday 15 April 2020 and was subsequently issued a third $1000 PIN.
- A 32-year-old woman has been fined when she was found away from her home without a reasonable excuse, 12 days after receiving a warning for breaching COVID-19 restrictions. About 11.30am, police identified a vehicle registered to the Narooma woman outside a home on Peden Street, Bega. The woman was located inside the property and was issued with a PIN.
- About 12.30am, police stopped a vehicle in Glen Innes and spoke with the driver, a 49-year-old man. He was unable to provide a reasonable excuse for being away from his home in Queensland. The man had received a warning two days earlier and was directed to return home. He was issued with a $1000 PIN.
- A 15-year-old boy has been issued with his second PIN in two weeks for failing to comply with a ministerial direction. About 4.30pm, officers attached to Wollongong Police District spoke to the teenager at a unit on Carrington Street, Woonona. After telling police he was there to see a friend, he was fined $1000.
- Police have fined a Potts Point man after he was unable to provide a valid reason for being at Kogarah Station. About 11.20am, officers attached to Police Transport Command issued the 35-year-old man with a PIN, after he was given a previous warning for being away from his home without a reasonable excuse on Monday 13 April 2020.
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.
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