Adelaide police wrap for week starting April 12, 2020: P-plate driver rolls car at St Morris | Trio arrested for allegedly stealing e-scooter at Broadview
A P-plate driver has rolled her car at St Morris, run from the scene, then refused a second breath test, police say. Meanwhile, three people have been arrested after allegedly stealing an e-scooter at Broadview.
Police & Courts
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South Australian crime and police reports for the week starting Sunday, April 12.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
P-PLATE DRIVER ‘REFUSES BREATH TEST’
A P-plate driver who allegedly rolled her car and then fled the scene at St Morris – only to be found at her home a short distance away – will face court on numerous charges.
Emergency services were called to Gage St after reports a Ford hatchback had crashed into a parked car and rolled about 2.10am on Sunday.
Witnesses said the female driver fled the scene.
Officers searched the car and found personal items, which led them to the alleged driver at a home nearby.
The 19-year-old returned a positive roadside breath test for alcohol, but refused a second test at a police station later, it will be alleged.
She was reported for driving without due care, breaching conditions of her provisional licence, leaving the scene of collision and failing to comply with a breath analysis test.
Her licence was cancelled on the spot for 12 months and her car was impounded for 28 days.
She will be summonsed to appear at Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.
TRIO ARRESTED AFTER TAXI DRIVE-BY
Three people have been arrested after they allegedly stole an e-scooter from a man who was assaulted with a tyre lever at Broadview.
The victim was riding the e-scooter along Hepburn St when he was approached by two men and woman in a Kia SUV just after midnight on Sunday.
One of the men threatened the victim with a tyre lever and hit him in the stomach, police say.
The trio was last seen in the KIA driving east along Hepburn St.
Patrols searched the area and found the SUV abandoned on Torrington Ave, Devon Park, a short time later.
Investigations led police to a house in Hillcrest where the SUV had been stolen from earlier in the night.
While officers were at the house, a taxi drove past with the three suspects. The car was stopped and the trio were arrested.
A 29-year-old man from Coober Pedy, a 35-year-old man from Devon Park and a 30-year-old woman from Port Lincoln were all charged with illegal use and aggravated robbery. They have been refused bail and will appear at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday.
METH, DRUG EQUIPMENT AND BANK CARDS FOUND
A man will face court for drug offences after police allegedly found methamphetamine and drug equipment during a traffic stop at Edwardstown.
It will also be alleged that officers found four mobile phones and bank cards in someone else’s name when the car was stopped on Churchill Ave about 1.30am on Sunday.
Patrols stopped the Holden sedan after checks revealed the registered owner had a disqualified driver’s licence.
Officers spoke to the driver, a 39-year-old Glandore man, and his passenger, a 23-year-old Ingle Farm woman.
Police had cause to search the car and allegedly located the drugs and other items.
The driver was arrested and charged with driving disqualified, trafficking a controlled drug and unlawful possession.
The passenger was reported for possessing a controlled drug. The man’s car was impounded for 28 days and he will face court at a later date.
SATURDAY, APRIL 18
CAR TORCHED AT CLEARVIEW
Two men have been arrested over an arson attack that severely damaged a car at Clearview.
Police and MFS crews were called to Windsor Ave just after 1am on Saturday after reports a car on fire in the front yard of a home.
The blaze had been controlled by occupants at the home by the time firefighters arrived, but not before extensive damage had been done to the Holden Commodore.
They were not injured, but told police they saw two men leaving the scene in a grey 4WD just after the attack.
Shortly after, just before 5am, police attended went to a home in Enfield and arrested a 26-year-old Enfield man and a 26-year-old Rostrevor man.
Both men are expected to be charged later on Saturday.
Anyone who witnessed the incident who has not yet spoken to police is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MAN IN POLICE STAND-OFF ON ROOF
A man who climbed a roof and claimed to have a gun during a stand-off with officers has been arrested at Walkley Heights, police say.
Police say the man was pulled over by patrols in a Toyota SUV on Walkleys Rd for a routine traffic stop just after 1am on Saturday.
The passenger allegedly gave officers a false name and then ran off along River Walk carrying a bag.
Patrols chased the man before he jumped a number of fences and climbed the roof of a house on Creekview Drive, refusing to surrender.
STAR Group officers and police negotiators were called to the scene after the man claimed to have a firearm.
Just before 3.30am, the 30-year-old from Glanville surrendered to police and was arrested.
He was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital for a medical assessment.
No firearms were found. He is expected to be charged with numerous offences.
FRIDAY, APRIL 17
‘HOON DRIVERS’ FINED AFTER FIVE-CAR CRASH
Five drivers believed to be part of a larger group of people seen doing burnouts have been fined after a pile up crash at Penfield.
Police patrols were called to Pellew Rd after reports a large group of cars was congregating and performing burnouts about 10.20pm on Friday.
When officers arrived, some vehicles had left the area, but five cars involved in a rear-end collision crash were still on the scene.
No one was injured but the drivers – a 19-year-old Paralowie man, 23-year-old Lightsview man, 21-year-old Golden Grove woman, 22-year-old Smithfield Plains man and a 22-year-old Willaston man – were handed expiation notices.
One car was towed from the scene.
Police say they are investigating the involvement of others and will not tolerate “hoon driving”.
Anyone who sees large gatherings of cars, or cars doing burnouts, is asked to call police immediately on 131 444.
MEN ARRESTED OVER BLACKWOOD BREAK-INS
Police have arrested two men after a Blackwood crime spree that saw more than a dozen businesses robbed in just over a week.
A 32-year-old Hackham man and a 40-year-old Glengowrie man allegedly broke into the businesses between March 19 and March 27.
The Hackham man faces three charges of aggravated criminal trespass, two counts of theft, one count of attempted theft and one charge of attempting to criminally trespass.
The Glengowrie man has been charged with three counts of theft and one count of aggravated serious criminal trespass.
They were bailed to appear in court on May 22 and June 24. A 44-year-old Ashford man was arrested at the same time for breach of bail and unlawful possession of $7850 in cash.
Police said the men were arrested as part of Operation Hurricane 2, which also saw three other men charged over separate alleged spates of crime.
A 32-year-old Findon man has been charged over a series of break-ins and thefts in the northern and western suburbs, while a Daw Park man, 38, has been charged with 25 counts of making off without payment from petrol stations. He was remanded in custody.
A Salisbury North man, 43, was bailed over a series of 13 alleged petrol thefts from service stations in the northern, western and southern suburbs.
MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER
A man has been arrested and charged with murder after a woman’s body was found inside a home at Morphett Vale.
The 38-year-old suspect was arrested by Major Crime detectives at Morphett Vale about 10pm on Thursday.
The Beverley man was refused bail and is expected to face Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Friday.
The 35-year-old victim was found at the property after calls to paramedics about 12.30pm on Thursday.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
SERIOUS CRASH IN MID NORTH
A man has been airlifted to Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries after his car rolled several times and hit a tree on an unsealed road in the state’s Mid North.
Police and emergency services responded to reports a crash on Jones Rd, Koolunga, just after 5.30pm on Thursday.
The driver and sole occupant, a 52-year-old man of no fixed address, was flown to Adelaide.
Investigations continue.
CYCLIST DRAGGED DOWN PORT RD.
A female cyclist has been seriously injured after she was hit by a truck and dragged 40 metres down a main road in Adelaide’s inner-west on Thursday.
Her light-blue bike was left crumpled on the footpath, with the front wicker basket snapped in half, after she was hit on Port Rd at Thebarton just after 7am.
Her bike was trapped under the truck’s wheels and MFS crews had to cut it in half to get it out.
SA Police said the cyclist, 22, of Malvern, was dragged under the truck 40 metres down the road
Thankfully she was able to free herself and was rushed her to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she remains with a serious, but not life-threatening, leg injury.
Westbound traffic was congested momentarily, but cars were flowing freely by 7.45am.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
-Gabriel Polychronis
MAN KILLED IN MT BARKER CRASH
An elderly man has died in a head-on crash at Mt Barker.
A Toyota Corolla and a Mazda ute collided on Hawthorn Rd just after 11am on Thursday.
The Toyota driver – an Aldgate man, 80 – was rushed to Mt Barker Hospital but died on arrival.
A 54-year-old Mylor man, who was driving the Mazda, was not injured in the crash but was taken to hospital as a precaution.
Major Crash investigators are examining the circumstances of the collision and ask anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The elderly man’s death takes the number of lives lost on South Australian roads so far this year to 36 – the same as at this time last year.
DRUNK DRIVER CRASHES INTO PARKED CARS
A drunk and disqualified driver has been arrested after allegedly crashing into two parked cars in St Peters last night.
The man, 28, of Joslin, returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.211 after the crashing his white Toyota LandCruiser on First Ave just before 9pm.
Police say he smashed into two parked cars, with one being pushed into a tree.
Officers found the drunk man sitting inside the damaged LandCruiser further down the road.
“Police checks on the male revealed he was already disqualified from driving, plus breaching bail,” an SA Police statement read.
The 28-year-old was charged with driving without due care, driving under the influence of alcohol and breach of bail.
He was granted bail to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
NEARLY 10KG OF CANNABIS FOUND AT KADINA
A man has been arrested after police seized nearly 10kg of cannabis on a drying rack that was allegedly inside his Yorke Peninsula shed.
The discovery was made early this morning at Kadina.
Police said they found nearly 10kg of cannabis drying inside a shed, allegedly belonging to a 28-year-old man.
He was charged with cultivating a large commercial quantity of cannabis and was bailed to appear in the Kadina Magistrates Court in August.
MAN CARJACKED AT FAST FOOD JOINT
A man parked at a fast food restaurant has been assaulted in a carjacking before the alleged thief led police on a chase through the southern suburbs.
The victim was sitting in his blue Ford Territory at Hungry Jack’s on Commercial Rd in Seaford just after 9pm when a another man allegedly assaulted him and fled in his car.
Police swarmed the area and followed the suspect as he drove down States Rd.
They pursued the man along several busy streets, including Bains, Main South and Reynell roads.
A police helicopter took over the chase and tracked the car around Christies Beach, Christie Downs and Noarlunga Centre before tyre spikes were used in a bid to stop the driver on Gulfview Rd.
But the driver continued and was spiked for a second time on Elizabeth Rd before he finally pulled into the car park of the Noarlunga Hospital and was arrested.
The 32-year-old man from Seaford Rise was charged with several offences, including aggravated robbery and driving dangerously to escape police pursuit.
Police allege he was also found in possession of a prohibited weapon.
He was refused bail to appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court today.
The victim of the carjacking was being treated at the Noarlunga Hospital for his injuries.
DRIVER ON METH CAUGHT SPEEDING
A man high on methamphetamine has been caught speeding at more than 70 km/h over the speed limit.
A traffic patrol detected the man, 36, of Hackham, travelling at 174 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on Lonsdale Rd in Hallett Cove just after 7.30pm on Tuesday.
Police said the man tested positive to methamphetamine and had two passengers in the car.
He was reported for speeding and drug driving, and his car was impounded for 28 days.
“Not only did the actions of the driver put himself and his passengers at risk, but he also put all road users in potential danger,” an SA Police spokesman said.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
MAN CHARGED WITH THREE SERVICE STATION ROBBERIES
A man who allegedly used a screwdriver to threaten workers in separate service station robberies has been arrested.
Police linked the man to two incidents on Saturday morning after he allegedly stole a pair of scissors from a service station John Rice Ave, Elizabeth South, about 3.30pm on Monday.
The man threatened a staff member before leaving empty-handed, police say.
Officers found the suspect nearby on Commercial Rd. The 40-year-old from Windsor Gardens was arrested and charged with aggravated robbery.
Following investigations, police have charged the man with two other robberies.
They say he threatened attendants with a screwdriver during robberies at service stations at Bridge Rd, Pooraka, and Hampstead Rd, Broadview, early on Saturday morning.
He will be refused bail and is expected to appear at Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
MONDAY, APRIL 13
DRIVERS ‘HOONING’ ON SCHUMACHER RD
Two drivers allegedly caught doing burnouts on a northern suburbs road that shares the same name as a Formula 1 legend have lost their cars to impound.
Members of the public called police to report “burnouts” being performed on Schumacher Rd, Wingfield, just before 8pm on Monday.
Officers arrived at the scene and found the suspect vehicles.
The drivers – a 23-year-old Seaton man and 24-year-old Athol Park man – were reported for misuse of a vehicle.
Their cars, a Ford Falcon and a Holden ute, were defected and impounded for 28 days.
The men will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
POLICE INVESTIGATE CAR FIRE
A car believed to have been dumped, then set on fire, has been severely damaged in Adelaide’s western suburbs.
Fire crews were called to a property off Pope St, Beverly, after reports a car was engulfed in flames near an industrial shed about 5.30am on Monday.
Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze, but not before it caused serious damage to the black Holden Commodore ute.
Police are investigating the blaze and say the car appears to have been dumped at the scene.
Anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SUNDAY, APRIL 12
MAN ARRESTED OVER MARIJUANA MAIL
A 15.5kg postal package of dried cannabis has been intercepted by police before it could reach New South Wales.
The marijuana haul was uncovered on Thursday.
It was traced to a 52-year-old NSW man who was arrested and charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of a controlled drug on Saturday, police say.
He was refused bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
MEN TRY TO STEAL CAR
Two men used an unknown weapon to assault another man in his front yard after demanding keys to his car at Gawler East.
Police are investigating the brazen attack at a home on Eucalypt Drive, which left the victim with head injuries just after 11.30pm on Sunday.
Minutes earlier, the homeowner was woken by the sound of banging on his front door. When he answered the knock he was confronted by the suspects, who demanded keys to his Ford Ranger.
The victim told police he walked outside and confronted the pair before he was assaulted with an unknown weapon.
The two men left the area on foot and were last seen heading west on Eucalypt Drive.
The victim was treated at Lyell McEwin Hospital.
One offender was about 180cm tall while the other was 145cm tall. Both had Australian accents.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
DRUNK WOMAN BLOWS 0.365 WITH KIDS IN CAR
A woman with two children in her car has lost her driver’s licence after she blew more than seven times the legal limit in Adelaide’s northern suburbs on Easter Sunday.
SA Police said they will be notifying the Department for Child Protection.
The woman, 30, of Ingle Farm, was pulled over on Main North Rd in Salisbury East about 1.30pm for a mobile breath test.
Police say she returned a staggering blood alcohol reading of 0.365.
Officers were left baffled to find a fully sober person in the passenger seat.
“Officers couldn’t understand why a sober adult passenger in the car, who has a full licence, wasn’t given the keys to safely driver the family,” a police statement read.
The woman was reported for drink driving and two counts of drink driving with a child under the age of 16 in the car.
She lost her licence for 12 months and will appear in court at a later date.
The passenger drove the kids home.
MAN KILLED IN RURAL ROLLOVER
A 19-year-old German man has been killed in a car rollover on a private property in the South East.
Police were called to the crash site on Woods Well Rd, Colebatch, about 10.45 on Saturday night.
The Toyota LandCruiser had rolled and ejected its driver and sole occupant, who died at the scene.
As the crash occurred on private property, the death will not be added to the road toll.
SEXUAL ASSAULT IN CBD
A man is on the run after sexually assaulting a woman in Adelaide’s CBD in the early hours of Easter Saturday.
Police say the assault happened in the southeast of the CBD, “in the vicinity” of Gilles and Pulteney streets between midnight and 1am.
They were called to a home in the area shortly after to investigate the incident.
The suspect, who was wearing a black fleece jumper and black trackpants, is described as being a man of Aboriginal appearance in his 40s.
He stands about 170cm tall with a stocky build, dark shoulder-length hair that is tightly curled and a “fuzzy beard”.
Anyone who saw a man matching the description around the time of the assault is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
‘BURNOUT TEEN’ LOSES CAR
A teenage driver’s car has been confiscated after he was allegedly caught doing burnouts near Ceduna.
Members of the public reported seeing a white Holden sedan doing burnouts at Pinky Point Lookout, Thevenard, just after 6pm on Sunday.
Police stopped the car as it was leaving the area and spoke with the driver – a 17-year-old from Ceduna.
He was reported for misuse of a vehicle, had his car impounded for 28 days and will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
He was also fined for breaching his provisional licence conditions.