Police officers stabbed, attacker shot dead in Crystal Brook incident

Witnesses say the man who was gunned down by police after a stabbing attack in a little country town north of Adelaide bought a lotto ticket just before the incident unfolded.

Witnesses say the man who attacked police officers – leaving one fighting for their life – bought a lotto ticket just moments before the horror unfolded.

Comm Stevens said Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, 53, the officer in charge of Port Germein, sustained life-threatening critical injuries after being stabbed in the neck, arm and hands.

Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely, 32, officer in charge of Crystal Brook, suffered stab wounds to his right leg and arm.

It is understood the officers were attending the Crystal Brook house over a domestic complaint about the occupant’s dog, a husky, that had been ongoing.

The attacker was shot and killed at the scene.

Both officers have been flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious but stable condition and have been placed in induced comas.

A local shop owner who did not wish to be identified said the man had been in to buy his weekly lotto ticket this morning before the attack occured.

The shop owner said “the man’s dog had been the subject of complaints by people in the town for some time”.

“It was a very aggressive dog, both in his front yard and when it was tied up out the front of shops in the main street,” the shop owner said.

“I actually felt sorry for the dog because it would get quite anxious when it was tied up.”

The shop owner said the dog’s owner, who was in his mid-50s, did not work and had been a resident for “about five years, maybe longer”.

“He kept to himself, when he came into the shop he was always very pleasant and polite,” the shop owner said.

Police on the scene at Symons Street, Crystal Brook, after a man was shot dead and two officers stabbed. Picture: Isaac Selby

Forensice crime-scene police on Symons Street after the shooting and stabbings. Picture: Isaac Selby

DEVELOPING: Two SA Police officers have been rushed to hospital, one in a ‘very bad way’, after they were stabbed at a Crystal Brook home. The attacker has been shot dead. The latest in 7NEWS Adelaide at 4pm and 6pm | https://t.co/yWaM4EImii#7NEWSpic.twitter.com/OfLncHQlD3

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) May 3, 2023

The officers were said to be “responding to a domestic call-out”.

Major Crime detectives, the forensic response section and the internal investigation section – with Comm Stevens – flew to the scene this afternoon.

The man’s death will be investigated by Major Crime detectives under established protocols, due to the nature of the shooting.

Attacker seemed happy and chatty before Crystal Brook stabbing

Police are at the scene of a “high-risk incident” at Crystal Brook. Picture: 7NEWS

Another Crystal Brook shop worker called Chloe said she had just served the offender before the incident unfolded.

“I served him probably just over half an hour before the incident took place … I’m in shock,” she told FIVEaa.

“It was just a normal interaction with him. He has come in the past a few times a bit on edge after a few incidents with his dog but this was just a normal morning and he seemed very happy and we were just chatting about the rain and how it takes him so long to dry his dog because of how big he is.

“Not long after we found out there was a siege down the street where he lived.”

“It was pretty scary and hard to hear – these things don’t happen in your small country town very often. We serve him daily, it’s not nice to hear.”

Another worker at the shop said the man used to have two dogs but one had passed away, which perhaps had led to surviving husky becoming anxious and howling when tied up on the main street.

Crystal Brook in a ‘frenzy’ after shooting

A worker at the Crystal Brook Hotel said people in the town were “in a frenzy”, with “multiple choppers are in the air” at the scene.

He said patrons at the hotel were scared by the unfolding incident.

Crystal Brook Football Club president Ian Lambert said hearing about the incident was “surreal”.

Emergency helicopters used the football club’s oval as a landing area.

“It’s not something you expect in a little country town,” Mr Lambert said.

The club president said he was hoping the police officers injured in the incident would make a recovery.

“The whole community wishes the best for the police officers.”

Port Pirie Regional Council mayor Leon Stephens said he was “at a loss to explain” the incident.

“It‘s not something you see in the pristine Crystal Brook,” Mr Stephens said. “We don’t have any real troubles and it’s out of character for the area.”

Mr Stephens said his thoughts were with the police officers involved.

“It‘s a terrible situation. Nobody should go to work and deal with incidents like that,” he said.

A local Crystal Brook resident, who preferred not to be named, said the community has been shaken by the incident.

“It’s a beautiful, little, quiet community where nothing like this happens,” she said.

“This will rock the boat for a lot of people.”

Premier, union react

Police Association president Mark Carroll said the incident highlighted the dangers frontline police continually faced.

“This is a horrifying reminder of the levels of extreme violence frontline police officers face in the line of duty,‘’ he said.

“Details about this tragic incident are scarce at the moment, but we do know that both officers are badly hurt, and one is in a serious condition in hospital.

“The Police Association is currently providing support to both the impacted officers and their families.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas said he had been briefed by Mr Stevens about the incident and extended his thoughts to the injured officers’ families.

He told parliament: “This is obviously an evolving situation and will be difficult news for the South Australian community to absorb.

“I have been briefed on the incident by the Police Commissioner today. SAPOL has also undertaken to further update the public as new information is known.

“Our frontline police do an inherently difficult and dangerous job each day when they go to work. They exercise this duty with courage and bravery.

“My thoughts, and I’m sure those of all members, are with these two officers and their families.

“I would also like to extend our thoughts and well wishes to the wider SAPOL family and all the officers who work so hard to keep our community safe.”