Police have charged four people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 18 COVID-19 related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:
- About 6.20am yesterday (Wednesday 22 April 2020), a 41-year-old man boarded a bus at Brookvale and allegedly failed to pay the fare. The driver confronted the man who threatened to spit on him. The driver opened the doors, and the man got off. Officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were notified and attended a Brookvale home. After being arrested, the man threatened to spit on officers and during a subsequent struggle, he allegedly bit a constable’s wrist. The man was taken to Manly Police Station where it is alleged he repeatedly spat in the holding dock. He was charged with not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19, resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, destroy or damage property¸ stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal), and breach of bail. An outstanding arrest warrant was also executed. The man was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Local Court today (Thursday 23 April 2020).
- Just before 8pm yesterday officers from St George Police Area Command were called to a home on Northcote Street, Sans Souci, after reports a person was trespassing. A 48-year-old man was found in the garage and arrested. He was taken to Kogarah Police Station and charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO (domestic), not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19, and breach of bail. The man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.
- About 8pm yesterday, officers from Inner West Police Area Command were called to Marrickville Road, Marrickville, after reports of mail theft. Police attended and spoke to a 29-year-old woman. Upon being searched, officers located bank documents and cards, methylamphetamine, and prescription medication. She was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station where she was charged with goods in personal custody suspected being stolen, possess prohibited drug, and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19. The woman was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.
The fourth individual charged has been addressed in a separate media release.
Yesterday’s PINs include:
- About 12pm, officers from Ryde Highway Patrol stopped a Holden Astra on Quay Street, Haymarket, after the vehicle allegedly crossed double white lines. Police spoke to the driver, a 20-year-old man, who stated he had driven from Strathfield to Vaucluse to drop another man to a friend’s house. During a search of his car, police found prescription medication and cash. He was issued a traffic infringement notice for not keep left of dividing line and a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel.
- Just after 9.30am, officers from the Police Transport Command spoke to a 67-year-old woman at Gosford Railway Station. She allegedly told police she had travelled from Newcastle with no reasonable excuse provided. Checks revealed she was issued a warning last Thursday (16 April 2020) and a PIN on Saturday (18 April 2020). She was subsequently issued a second $1000 PIN.
- About 3.10pm, police patrolling the Tea Gardens area stopped and spoke with a man sitting in the driver’s seat of a parked car. After speaking with the 52-year-old man, officers searched his vehicle; seizing 10kg of cannabis and a syringe containing methamphetamine. It’s alleged the man admitted the reason he was out of his home was to purchase drugs. He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where he was charged with supply cannabis, two counts of drug possession, and self-administer prohibited drug. He was also issued with a $1000 PIN for breaching the Public Health Act.
- About 3.40pm, officers from Police Transport Command saw a woman at Wollongong Railway Station. The officers recognised the woman as they had issued her a warning for breaching a ministerial direction the day prior. Officers again spoke to the 18-year-old woman, who indicated she was out to visit a friend. She was issued with a $1000 PIN.
- About 10.40pm, officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command stopped a vehicle at Tregear, speaking with the 33-year-old male driver. The Bathurst man was questioned as to why he was away from his place of residence and could not provide a reasonable excuse. After checks revealed he had been given two prior warnings for breaching a ministerial direction, the man was issued with a $1000 PIN.
- About 10.30am, officers from Brisbane Water Highway Patrol stopped a Ford Ranger on the M1 motorway, Somersby, and spoke to the driver, a 48-year-old man. Checks revealed he was issued a Court Attendance Notice on Saturday 11 April 2020 for driving while suspended. The Mona Vale man was issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel and told not to drive the vehicle. About an hour later, police responded to reports of a man walking across the motorway. Officers attempted to speak to the man, however, he became abusive and was subsequently arrested. He was issued a traffic infringement for pedestrian not keep to far left or right side of road and taken to Woy Woy train station for alternative transport.
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.
/Public Release. View in full here.
