Man arrested after two people involved in police siege in southern suburbs
A man has been arrested after a police chase and standoff sparked by a robbery, with the homeowner saying officers used excessive force when they knocked on the door.
SA News
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An armed robbery at an Adelaide second-hand store has sparked a police chase and siege near a southern suburbs school that ended with a man arrested and facing serious charges.
The armed standoff about 500m from the primary school began after police tracked a pair of suspected robbers to a house.
Police were called to a Clovelly Park store on South Road about 11.10am on Monday after two men entered armed with a firearm and hammers.
They allegedly threatened staff and smashed glass counters, stealing jewellery and a cash till before fleeing the scene on separate motorcycles, one black and the other black and green.
No injuries were reported.
The police helicopter tracked one of the bikes across the metro area to a house in Penzance Avenue, Christies Beach, about 12.30pm.
A standoff ensued, with specialist STAR Group officers and detectives called to the scene.
The siege ended after about 90 minutes, when a man was arrested and taken away by STAR Group officers with bags over his hands.
Police detectives began combing the property for clues with sniffer dogs.
A man, Peter, who rents the property at the centre of the incident said he was surprised to have a police operation at his doorstep on Monday morning.
“A friend called me last night and asked if their mate could have a place to stay for a night,” he said.
A tense police standoff near a Christies Beach school has come to an end with the arrest of a suspect wanted over a robbery. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 6pm. #7NEWSpic.twitter.com/JX2vn7p8pJ
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 7, 2023
“I know nothing about it, all of a sudden I just had guns pointed in my face.”
He claimed STAR Group officers used excessive force.
“They pushed me back down and my face into the dirt,” he said. “I’m also an asthmatic.”
SAPOL said it had no further comment to make on the investigation.
Neighbour Donna Day said she realised something was happened when she heard a dog barking.
“I came out and saw a man being dragged down the road in handcuffs by police,” she said.
She said there were a number of armoured police in the street.
“My heart was pounding, I was quite scared, it was like a panic attack,” she said.
“It looked like they’d dragged the guy out of the shower.”
Police have left the scene after collecting several bags of evidence and Peter has since returned to his property.
One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said police handled the situation very professionally.
“They did a pretty good job actually at trying to calm them down,” he said.
“I could hear them saying something like put the bottle down and come out the back door.”
Graham Meyers lives a few doors down from the property and said the siege was wrapped up quite quickly.
“I think they were only here for around 20 minutes before the man gave himself up,” he said
“They were good, they just said take your time, come out when you’re ready.”
Another neighbour, Chris Pearson, said he never noticed any trouble at the property.
“I’ve never noticed much coming and going from there, but I think a few young people live at the address,” he said.
“Nothing surprises me anymore though, there’s a few houses left like that where the scumbags live.”
Another neighbour said there was sometimes music coming from the property.
A motorcycle was removed and towed from the property on Monday afternoon.
MFS was also assisting police.
Local Bill Jamieson said the street was normally a quiet place.
“I’ve lived here for over 40 years, it was the Wild West when I was younger but it seems to have settled so I’m amazed,” he said.
“I was just walking and all of a sudden there were a lot of police who told me to get out the way.”
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