Two arrested over Findon break-in | Transport union slams ‘racist’ attack at Taperoo station
Two men have been arrested over a break-in at Findon overnight. Meanwhile, a woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting an Indian student at a train station last month – an attack that the transport union says was “racially motivated”.
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Rolling police news for the week beginning Saturday, June 13.
SATURDAY, JUNE 20
TWO ARRESTED OVER FINDON BREAK-IN
Two men have been arrested for allegedly breaking into a western suburbs home in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police quickly swooped on the men at a home on The Circuit in Findon just before 4am.
Officers saw a man running from the front door of the house and he was arrested at the scene.
He was taken to hospital for treatment of an injury he sustained while allegedly breaking into the home.
Meanwhile, police say a second man tried to escape by jumping over fences.
Cordons were set up in the area and police dogs Jax and Zeus sniffed out the man, who was found hiding under a car on Pamela St.
Both men, aged 23 and 21 from Findon, are expected to be charged later on Saturday.
Police have arrested two men after break-ins at The Circuit in Findon. One man confronted an intruder in his garage, while an elderly woman in another home woke to find a man rifling through her drawers. @9NewsAdel pic.twitter.com/vBdN6ADn33
— Bryce Heaton (@bryceheaton9) June 19, 2020
FRIDAY, JUNE 19
TRANSPORT UNION SLAMS ‘RACIST’ ATTACK AT TRAIN STATION
A woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting an Indian student at a western suburbs train station last month, in what South Australia’s transport union believes was a racist attack.
The passenger, reportedly an international student, was allegedly assaulted by the woman, 35, of Semaphore Park, at the Taperoo railway station just after 8.30pm on Saturday, May 30.
She was arrested at the scene, charged with two counts of assault and property damage and banned from using public transport for three months.
The woman was granted bail to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court next month.
SA branch secretary of the Transport Workers’ Union, Ian Smith, condemned the “racially motivated incident” in a statement issued on Friday afternoon.
“Racism and discrimination of any sort is a disease that must not be tolerated in our society,” he said.
It is believed the woman tried to flee on a bus after the alleged attack, but the driver refused to move the vehicle until police arrived.
Mr Smith praised the driver, who “put himself at risk” by supporting the victim.
“This is unfortunately not an isolated incident. It is part of a wider safety crisis that is hitting our public transport system,” he said.
Mr Smith said that, according to a recent survey, more than 40 per cent of bus drivers feel their job has become more dangerous, while more than 60 per cent say they have been verbally abused.
KINFE-POINT BREAK-IN AT POORAKA
Three men are on the run after breaking into a Pooraka home armed with a knife in the early hours of this morning.
Police say the men forced a side window open at the home on South Tce about 4.15am on Friday.
The residents confronted the offenders, who ran off with a wallet and a small bag containing jewellery.
Police Dog Stoic picked up a scent and tracked it to a nearby home, where the stolen wallet was located.
Crime Scene officers spent more than an hour examining the scene this morning, but police are yet to arrest any of the suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
FLARE BOUNCES OFF CAR INTO HOME
A flare has bounced off a car, smashed a window and landed in the hallway of a northern suburbs home overnight.
Police say the flare was thrown at a property on Mannington Rd at Elizabeth Park just before 2am on Friday.
The flare ricocheted off the car and smashed the home’s front window, before coming to a stop in the hallway.
MFS crews rushed to the scene and ventilated the house.
No one was injured.
Police are investigating the incident and ask anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
$12.5m FIRM FRAUD IS DENIED
The former credit manager at one of Adelaide’s largest companies will stand trial after she denied defrauding it of $12.5 million. Glenda Ivy Burgess, 62, of Hillbank, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today, charged with 200 offences.
Burgess formally pleaded not guilty to 115 aggravated counts of deceiving another to cause detriment and 85 counts of manipulating a machine to cause detriment to another person.
Police allege Burgess was the credit manager at Adelaide Brighton Cement when she falsified the company’s business records between 2009 and 2017.
She was charged after detectives from the Serious and Organised Financial Crime Investigation Branch conducted a lengthy investigation.
Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard remanded Burgess on continuing bail to face the District Court for arraignment in September.
MAN DETAINED AFTER DAMAGING BUS
Terrified passengers on board a bus at Glenelg East this morning hid behind seats as a man outside smashed objects against the windows.
Police were sent to the intersection of Diagonal and Brighton roads just after 7.30am after a man in response to reports of a man running in and out of traffic and damaging a car and a bus.
Members of the public detained the man by the time police arrived.
The 37-year-old was arrested and taken to Flinders Medical Centre for a mental health assessment. He was expected to undergo surgery on Thursday for several cuts to his arms and will be detained for seven days. Property damage and assault charges are likely, police say.
Video footage of the incident has been shared on social media.
It shows a man standing in front of the bus, holding an object up against the windscreen before he moves to the driver’s side window and starts hitting it.
It is understood at least one window was smashed on the bus.
In a video filmed by a passenger, a woman can be heard saying “someone needs to call the police – We’re in danger”.
“We need to get off. He’s breaking glass," she said.
“Here he comes. Get down. Just get down. Get down.”
It appeared passengers crouched behind seats to hide from the man.
Decided to take a bus this morning from Glenelg to @Flinders @10NewsFirstAdl @7NewsAdelaide pic.twitter.com/8W2ZA2wzLD
— Zivile Useckaite (@ZivileUseckaite) June 17, 2020
In an unrelated incident, a cyclist who allegedly punched a bus driver in the face multiple times during a road rage incident in Adelaide’s south earlier this month has been identified by police and reported.
Police say that just after 1.30pm on June 3, a cyclist who allegedly saw an act of poor driving by a bus driver on Diagonal Rd, Sturt then followed the bus into the Marion Shopping Centre.
The cyclist allegedly confronted the driver in the doorway of the bus and punched him in the face.
Police say the driver retreated onto the bus and the cyclist followed him and made further attempts to assault him by again hitting him in the face before he left the area.
Police released images of the suspect at the time and received several calls to Crime Stoppers.
They interviewed the suspect – a 34-year-old Mile End man – and reported him for aggravated assault.
He was also issued with a three-month public transport barring order and will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR CHARGED WITH INDECENT ASSAULT AGAINST LEARNER DRIVER
A driving instructor has been arrested for allegedly indecently assaulting a teenage learner driver during a driving lesson in Adelaide’s north.
Police are now appealing to anyone else who has been a victim of similar offending to contact them.
The 62-year-old man, from the northern suburbs, was arrested by officers from the Northern District Child and Family Investigation Section on Monday and charged with aggravated indecent assault.
Police will allege the man was a driving instructor and while he was instructing a teenager, he indecently assaulted her while they were parked on the side of a road.
The man was bailed with strict conditions to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on June 25.
Police say they have informed the Registrar of Motor Vehicles of this alleged offending.
They are continuing to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at crimestopperssa.com.au.
MAN ARRESTED OVER STABBING ATTACK
A man is in custody after a woman was stabbed in Adelaide’s northwest.
Police and paramedics were sent to a Mansfield Park home about 10.30pm on Wednesday night in response to a woman reporting that she had been stabbed during a domestic incident.
They arrived to find a 37-year-old woman with a stab wound to her leg.
She was treated at the scene before she was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
A 37-year-old Mansfield Park man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault to cause harm.
He was refused police bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court later o Thursday.
Police urge anyone experience domestic violence to contact them immediately.
WANTED MAN ARRESTED AFTER PURSUIT
A wanted man will appear in court on Thursday after he was arrested following a brief police pursuit in the northern suburbs.
At about 3.10am on Thursday morning, police spotted a blue Toyota Celica on Midway Rd at Elizabeth Downs.
Check revealed the driver was wanted for numerous offences including assault and traffic matters.
The vehicle sped off and was chased for a few minutes until it clipped the kerb and spun out.
The 28-year-old driver, of no fixed address, was charged with engaging in a police pursuit, driving while disqualified and other offences, including an active warrant.
He was refused police bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court later on Thursday.
His passenger – a 47-year-old woman – was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
MAN CHARGED OVER 14 BREAK-INS
A man has been arrested and charged with 14 break-ins spanning a 20-year period after DNA linked him to the crime spree, police say.
Eastern District Detectives arrested the 48-year-old Adelaide man on Tuesday.
He faced court on Wednesday charged with 14 counts of serious criminal trespass and breach of bail. He was remanded in custody.
In one of the most recent break-ins the man was identified through CCTV, it will be alleged.
Police say DNA links the man to several other break-ins, which occurred between 1999 and 2020.
Police have recovered some power tools, electronic items and a bicycle. Other items yet to be found include:
An Uber Eats Samsung tablet, Acer laptop computer and 18 expensive bottles of Penfolds wine – six bottles each of Bin 389, Bin 407 and Bin 707 with vintage ranging between 2014-16. Some of the bottles were in a wooden Penfolds display case.
DETECTIVES CONTINUE MCLAREN VALE MURDER INVESTIGATION
Detectives are still piecing together the movements of accused murderer Austin Smith in the hours before he allegedly stabbed his grandfather to death in McLaren Vale last week.
A group of Southern CIB detectives gathered at the McLaren Vale Central Shopping Centre on Main Rd on Wednesday morning to ask businesses for CCTV footage.
They also visited homes to speaks with anyone who may have seen the accused.
Detective Chief Inspector Scott Fitzgerald believes Smith, 22, was walking on Main Rd in the hours before he allegedly murdered his 81-year-old grandfather Stanley Broadwood at their Bond St home last Tuesday night.
“We believe (Smith) came down the main street of McLaren Vale certainly during the day and immediately before the murder,” Chief-Insp Fitzgerald said.
Smith also allegedly stabbed his grandmother Marie Broadwood, who is recovering from serious injuries.
He was arrested at the scene and charged with murder and attempted murder last Tuesday, but Chief-Insp Fitzgerald said police still need to gather more evidence to help the prosecution.
“We need to piece together the events leading up to the offence and it’s a large area where we believe (Smith) has walked along the main street,” he said.
Police say Smith was wearing an olive polo shirt, black track pants and white sneakers on the day of the murder.
“What occurred here last Tuesday was an absolute tragedy for the Broadwood family,” Chief-Insp Fitzgerald said.
Smith remains behind bars and is due to face court again in October.
CAR CRASHES INTO CHILDCARE CENTRE
A man is on the run after crashing his car into a southern suburbs child care centre on Tuesday night.
The car, a 2015 white Statesman, careered into the front entrance of the Morphett Vale Early Learning Centre on Flaxmill Rd just after 10.30pm.
SA Police say a number of witnesses at the scene described the incident as a “deliberate act”.
The crash caused extensive structural damage and the driver – a man who is known to police – remains on the run.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
DRIVER FLEES | Police are searching for the driver of a white Statesman after it crashed into a child care centre at Morphett Vale last night. The man, who police say is known to them, fled the scene after smashing into the front entrance of the building around 10.30pm. pic.twitter.com/vubbcCAYnz
— 10 News First Adelaide (@10NewsFirstAdl) June 16, 2020
MAN ARRESTED AFTER CLIMBING DOWN THREE-STOREY BUILDING
A man has allegedly tried to flee police by scaling down a three-storey building in Hindley St and leaping on to the roof of a car – wearing a bright orange hi-vis top the entire time, and finding a waiting police officer on the ground.
Police say just after 9am on Tuesday, patrols went to an apartment building in Hindley St in Adelaide’s CBD searching for a man wanted for various traffic offences and breaching bail earlier in the week.
The suspect opened a glass sliding door to the balcony and climbed over the railing, scaling the building and jumping on to the roof of a car where he was arrested.
MAN’S FACE BURNED IN HOUSE FIRE
A man in his 60s has suffered burns to his face after a house fire on Yorke Peninsula on Tuesday night.
The fire broke out at his home on Bower St in Moonta Mines just before 9.30pm.
More than 30 CFS volunteers rushed to the scene, but the home was completely destroyed.
The damage bill is estimated at $80,000.
One occupant, a man in his 60s, was taken to hospital with burns to his face.
A CFS spokeswoman said the blaze was started by an open fire in the living room.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
CANNABIS BUNKER BUSTED
A secret cannabis bunker hidden beneath a Seaton home was being used by an interstate drug trafficking syndicate before the group was dismantled, SA Police say.
On Tuesday, detectives searched 16 properties across Adelaide and arrested four men while another man and woman were reported.
The carefully concealed bunker was found with 29 cannabis plants.
Dried cannabis, a taser, three vehicles and money was also seized.
Interstate drug ring dismantled by police - seven people to appear in court https://t.co/SrlHo9aN14 pic.twitter.com/I9anJ0IKLh
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) June 16, 2020
It will be alleged three of the arrested men were participating in a criminal organisation. Seven people will face court.
Two men were arrested in the Northern Territory after 21kg of cannabis was seized on May 22.
On June 11 in SA, 2.7kg of cannabis was seized and another 3.1kg found the next day.
It will be alleged both loads of cannabis were destined for WA.
On Monday, a 58-year-old man from Waterloo Corner was arrested for one count of large commercial drug trafficking and two counts of commercial drug trafficking.
He will face Adelaide Magistrates Court in December.
WOMAN, 70, IN CAR THAT FLIPPED INTO CREEK
A woman was lucky to escape with minor injuries after her car ended up in the Aldgate Creek on Tuesday morning.
Sometime overnight, the woman’s car left the road and flipped on to its roof into the Aldgate Creek off Aldgate Valley Rd, near Kiley Rd.
The 70-year-old woman, the only occupant of the car, managed to free herself and walk to a nearby house around 5am.
She was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by ambulance for treatment of minor injuries.
The Mercedes sedan is to be recovered from the creek.
Police are investigating the cause of the crash.
Local patrols warn rain is still falling steadily in the area and urge motorists to take care on the roads.
MONDAY, JUNE 15
CUTE, CUDDLY AND SOON ON THE HUNT
They’re adorable … and they’re also in training to be a criminal’s worst nightmare.
Three-month-old prospective police dogs – Banjo, Barney, Bomber, Cooper and Chaos – will be put through their paces over the next 12 months after being selected to take part in the SA Police puppy development program.
Senior Sergeant Kurt Newcombe said the course was to determine whether the pups were capable of “performing the rigours of police work”.
“We look for things like nerve stability, trainability, their bond with their handler, all sorts of traits,” he said.
If the pups pass, they will go on to a 12-16 week general purpose dog course where they learn how to be fully operational police dogs.
Those who don’t make the cut are rehomed with a loving family.
Police Minister Corey Wingard warned crooks not to be fooled by their friendly appearance.
“These dogs, while they’re cute and cuddly right now, in 12 months will be out there sniffing out drug offenders and people who committed crimes, playing their role in SAPOL to apprehend criminals,” he said.
-Elizabeth Henson
THREE ARRESTED OVER GUNPOINT KIDNAPPING
A woman who was allegedly kidnapped at gunpoint called triple-0 while tied up in the boot of a car on Saturday morning.
Three people have been arrested over the kidnapping and will face court on Monday afternoon.
Police say the woman met one of the accused in Para Hills overnight on Friday, where she was threatened with a gun and forced to drive a Mitsubishi sedan to a home in Elizabeth Park.
She was then taken inside and allegedly assaulted before being tied up and placed in the boot of the Mitsubishi.
Just before 1am on Saturday, the woman called triple-0 and provided authorities with vague details of her location while still in the boot.
Police say she had suffered several injuries, including a fractured eye socket.
Officers rescued the woman before entering the Elizabeth Park home, where they arrested two men and a woman – all known to the victim.
Police found the victim’s purse, clothing and jewellery inside the house, while they also seized a replica handgun.
The three accused are:
-A 33-year-old woman from Elizabeth Park
-A 33-year-old man from Valley View
-A 39-year-old man from Para Hills.
The trio were charged with kidnapping, aggravated threats to kill, aggravated assault causing harm, aggravated assault and illegal use.
They are expected to face the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Monday afternoon.
The kidnapped woman was treated at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
SA Police urge anyone who saw a black Mitsubishi Magna sedan with registration WUA612 im the northern suburbs between Friday 7pm and Saturday 1am to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
FOUR POLICE OFFICERS ‘ASSAULTED’ WITHIN FIVE HOURS
Four police officers have allegedly been assaulted in three separate incidents occurring just hours apart.
The confrontations happened across Adelaide on Saturday between 4pm and 9pm. In one case, an officer was taken to hospital for treatment of a hand injury before returning to duty.
In the first incident, a man allegedly spat at police officers and tripped another during a scuffle at Kurralta Park about 4.15pm.
Then, at Windsor Gardens just after 6pm, a woman allegedly pushed an officer and tried to bite them while a man she knew was being arrested over an alleged robbery with a knife.
The final incident took place at Underdale when an officer was hit on the head about
9pm.
During the arrest of a man, a woman approached the officer and struck him.
A police spokeperson said the trio have been charged with assaulting a prescribed emergency service worker.
“Policing is a unique profession where frontline duties see police often in the face of danger,” they said.
“Police do an extraordinary job every day to ensure the safety of the community and they do so with the utmost commitment. Any assault against police officers is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
The maximum penalty for a basic assault offence against a police officer is five years’ imprisonment.
For more detail on each incident, read below.
Showers and low cloud about the Adelaide Hills will make road conditions dangerous this afternoon and evening and during Monday morning. A Road Weather Alert has been issued. Please take extra care on the roads. Latest warnings at https://t.co/5wxFrWeCue
— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) June 14, 2020
SERIOUS CRASH AT MILANG
A man is in a critical condition after his car lost control and hit a tree at Milang.
Police and emergency services were called to Nine Mile Rd after reports a car travelling south had left the road and hit a tree about 12.20am on Sunday.
The driver – a 34-year-old Strathalbyn man – was the only person in the car.
He was flown to the Flinders Medical Centre with life threatening injuries.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Anyone with information who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
TWO PEOPLE ARRESTED AFTER POLICE ASSAULT
A police officer was hit on the head during an arrest at Underdale.
Police say the officer was arresting a drunk man for disorderly behaviour as he walked along Henley Beach Rd about 9pm on Saturday.
During the arrest, a woman approached the officer and hit him on the head.
A 52-year-old man from Yattalunga was charged with disorderly behaviour, resisting and hindering police.
He was bailed to appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court on August 20.
The 33-year-old woman from Henley Beach South was charged with assaulting a prescribed emergency worker, resisting arrest and refusing to state her name and address.
She was refused bail and will appear at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
MAN ‘SPAT’ ON POLICE
A man who allegedly spat at police officers and tripped another has been arrested at Kurralta Park.
Patrols received reports the man was standing in the middle of the road near South Rd and Anzac Highway about 4.15pm on Saturday.
Officers found the man in the middle of the intersection and tried to move him off the road.
After refusing, he allegedly tripped one officer and struggled with police as they tried to restrain him.
It will be alleged the man also spat at police.
The 48-year-old from Hove was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital for a mental health assessment.
He was charged with two counts of assaulting a prescribed emergency worker, resisting arrest and remaining on roadway.
He was been refused bail and will appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
One officer was treated for a minor hand injury.
MAN, WOMAN ARRESTED OVER KNIFE-POINT ROBBERY
A man who allegedly used a knife to steal a woman’s handbag has been arrested at Windsor Gardens, while a woman known to him allegedly attacked a police officer during a confrontation.
Police were called to a home on Barnet St after reports of a robbery about 6.10pm on Saturday.
Police allege the victim went to a house and was approached by a man from a neighbouring property.
They say she was threatened with a knife before the handbag was stolen.
The victim ran from the area to a nearby home and called police.
A short time later police arrested a 19-year-old man from Windsor Gardens. He was charged with aggravated robbery and refused bail. He will appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
During his arrest, a woman known to the man confronted police officers and allegedly pushed one before trying to bite them. The 40-year-old from Windsor Gardens was charged with aggravated assault of a prescribed officer and resisting arrest.
She was refused bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates on Monday.
FOUR ARRESTED OVER PAFC BREAK-IN
Four people have been arrested after a break-in at Port Adelaide Football Club with police catching two suspects after a chase on foot.
Officers were called to the club after an alarm activated about 2.20am on Saturday.
When the first patrol arrived they started a search but then saw two people run from the building, allegedly dropping items as they ran.
Police chased the pair on foot and managed to catch the them at a car parked on nearby Seventh Ave, where two others were waiting inside the vehicle.
A 19-year-old man from Brompton and 16-year-old girl from Ferryden Park, who allegedly ran from the scene, were charged with serious criminal trespass and theft.
A 20-year-old man from Seaton and 16-year-old girl from Woodville Park, found in the car, were also charged with serious criminal trespass and theft.