Man, 28, arrested after allegedly reversing into police car, injuring two officers
A man who allegedly reversed into a police car, injuring two officers, has been arrested after a dramatic chase on Friday morning.
Police & Courts
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Rolling crime wrap for SA police news from Sunday, May 24
FRIDAY, MAY 29
DRAMATIC PURSUIT ENDS IN ARREST
A man has been arrested for allegedly evading police and smashing into a patrol car on Friday morning.
Officers first tried to stop a 28-year-old Port Adelaide man, behind the wheel of a black Commodore, on Salisbury Highway at Salisbury about 9.30am.
Police say the driver refused to stop and evaded the patrol north on the highway.
About 45 minutes later, a witness saw the Commodore with front end damage on Holbrooks Rd at Underdale. The witness said the driver was driving erratically.
Western District patrols found the car and chased it north on South Rd, before turning onto Pym St at Dudley Park.
Officers followed the 28-year-old on Hotchkiss Crescent, where he allegedly stopped and reversed at speed into the front of the police car.
The driver and passenger of the police car suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital as a precaution.
The chase was called off due to safety reasons, as the man drove off east on Cowley Crescent.
Police found the car abandoned on a train line at Cormack Rd, Dry Creek about 10 minutes later.
It is alleged the driver tried to run away and jump over a fence, but he was arrested on Railway Tce.
The 28-year-old was charged with acts to endanger life, failing to stop, engage in a police pursuit and other driving offences.
HOUSE FIRE IN MID NORTH
A home in SA’s Mid North has been destroyed by a suspicious fire.
The fire broke out on Craig St in Tarlee about 3.45pm on Friday.
No one was home at the time and there were no reported injuries.
The home was completely destroyed, with the damage bill estimated at $100,000.
Fire Cause investigators have examined the scene, but the cause is still undetermined.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
THURSDAY, MAY 28
WANTED MAN ARRESTED IN WESTERN SUBURBS
Police have arrested wanted man Simon Bekiri in the western suburbs.
Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives and STAR group officers attended a Woodville North home and took Bekiri into custody without incident just before 2pm on Thursday.
Bekiri, 38, was wanted for breaching an intensive bail supervision order after cutting off his monitoring bracelet earlier this week. Police found a white Mercedes he was driving on Waymouth St in the CBD on Thursday morning.
He has been charged with breaching his bail, while a 38-year-old woman from Adelaide also found at the Woodville North home also has been arrested over an outstanding parole warrant.
Bekiri is expected to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday
WANTED MAN SPOTTED IN CBD
Police have renewed their appeal for public assistance to identify wanted man Simon Bekiri after the car he was believed to have been driving was this morning seen on Waymouth St in the CBD.
Bekiri, 38, is wanted for breaching an intensive bail supervision order after cutting off his monitoring bracelet earlier this week.
Police found the white Mercedes this morning on Waymouth St.
Bekiri is 172cm tall, with a solid build and weighing 90kg, with short brown hair. He was last known to have a goatee beard.
Police are urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bekiri to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
MAN ARRESTED AFTER BUS DRIVER ASSAULT
A man has been arrested after allegedly striking a bus driver with a beer bottle in Paralowie overnight. Police were called to a disturbance on Burton Rd just after 6.30pm Wednesday.
On arrival, police spoke to a bus driver who had a large lump over his left eye after allegedly being punched in the face by a male passenger, then struck above the eye with an empty longneck beer bottle by the same man. Police say the suspect was found on Burton Rd next to where the bus had stopped. The 39-year-old Kent Town man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. He was taken to Modbury Hospital for treatment to minor injuries. He was bailed to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court at a later date. The bus driver, a man in his 60s, was treated at the scene by ambulance officers.
The beer bottle did not smash on impact in the attack.
MAN ARRESTED FOR DRUGS IN UNDIES
A passenger in a ride-share vehicle was charged with drug trafficking after 26g of meth was found in his underwear. Patrols stopped a ride-share vehicle after it was seen leaving a hotel on North Terrace just after Midnight on Thursday. Police spoke to the passenger and searched the vehicle, where they located an amount of cash, cannabis and a knife under the seat. The 30-year-old man was arrested and charged with possessing a knife and breach of bail. He was taken to the City Watch House. He was searched again by police where they located around 26g of methamphetamine in his underwear. He was further charged with trafficking a controlled drug. He did not apply for bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
FIRE REVEALS CANNABIS CROP
Police have found a hydroponic cannabis crop at a house while attending to a fire at Wingfield. Fire crews were called to Fifth St just after 8am on Thursday morning after reports of a large fire.
Crews extinguished the blaze within half an hour and found a cannabis crop inside. Police suspect the fire may have started from electricity being illegally diverted to the premises. Smoke from the fire is causing a current traffic hazard at the intersection of Grand Junction Rd and Hanson Rd, so police urge motorists to drive with care in the area. Anyone with information that can assist police is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
UNLICENSED DRIVER WITH WEAPONS AND DRUGS
A Port Augusta man has been arrested after police found him in possession of weapons and drugs. Police stopped the man driving a BMW, which was displaying fake number plates made of paper and sticky tape, around 11am Tuesday. Police checks revealed the 31-year-old man driving the car hadn’t held a current driver’s licence since 2009. After a search of the vehicle police uncovered a meat cleaver, a homemade knife and ice pick. They also found small bags containing cannabis and a substance believed to be methamphetamine. The Port Augusta man was in possession of a used syringe and a pair of scissors on him. He was arrested and charged with driving without a licence, driving with false number plates, driving an unregistered and uninsured car, five counts of carrying an offensive weapon and being in possession of controlled drugs. He was bailed to appear in Port Augusta Magistrates Court in September.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27
MEN ARRESTED FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Two men have been arrested and will today face court on drug trafficking charges after police searched a western suburbs property and found 200kg of cannabis.
Police searched the Tennyson home at around 9am on Tuesday and arrested two men for drug offences.
A 46-year-old man was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled drug, two counts of possessing a controlled drug, possessing cannabis oil and possessing ammunition without a licence. The other man, a 51-year-old from Walkerville was arrested and charged with trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis.
Both men were refused bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
MAN ARRESTED AFTER GEL BLASTER INCIDENTS
A man has been arrested and police are hunting for a second suspect after several pedestrians were struck by gel blaster pellets this week in Adelaide’s north.
Police received three reports from pedestrians being struck by gel blaster pellets on Monday between 6.15pm and 6.25pm.
Detectives on Tuesday arrested an 18-year-old Evanston Gardens man.
MAN ESCAPES INJURY IN MILLSWOOD CRASH
A man has escaped serious injury after his car flipped on East Ave at Millswood this morning.
Police and paramedics were called to East Ave just after 9am after reports a driver had clipped a bus stop and flipped their car on its side.
Paramedics treated a man with head injuries at the scene before taking him to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
The road was closed for some time but has since been opened.
MAN CHARGED WITH TRAFFIC AND DRUG OFFENCES
A man has been charged with multiple traffic and drug offences after failing to stop for police in Winninowie, in the state’s Mid North.
An officer attempted to stop a speeding Holden on the Augusta Highway near Miranda just after 1pm on Tuesday. Nearby patrols noticed the vehicle entering Gade Rd in Winninowie. After searching the area police discovered the car and driver, a 27-year-old Solomontown man, and arrested him for traffic offences.
Police found a large commercial quantity of cannabis and a trafficable amount of methylamphetamine in his car and vicinity.
Inside his home, they allegedly found hydroponic cannabis cultivation equipment, knuckle dusters and other drug paraphernalia.
The man was charged with exceeding the speed limit, failing to stop, driving unlicensed, trafficking a large commercial quantity of cannabis, trafficking a controlled drug, possessing prescribed equipment and possessing a prohibited weapon.
TEENS CAUGHT ‘STREET RACING’
Two teenagers have had their cars impounded after an alleged street race in Adelaide’s northern suburbs on Tuesday night.
Police were monitoring the Smithfield Plains area after recent reports of reckless driving when they saw a black Holden ute and a white Holden sedan driving at high speeds together about 8.30pm.
Officers tried to stop the vehicles several times, but could not get close enough.
The sedan was being driven by a 17-year-old boy from Blakeview, while the ute was being driven by an 18-year-old Craigmore man, police say.
The pair stopped at a red light at the intersection of Curtis and Peachey roads – but allegedly sped off as soon as the lights turned green.
This time, officers managed to pull over the two drivers.
Both males were reported for street racing and both cars were impounded for 28 days.
They will appear in court at a later date.
Anyone who witnesses illegal driving behaviour is asked to immediately call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
HOME TARGETED IN MOLOTOV ATTACK
A home has been targeted in a molotov cocktail attack overnight.
The weapon was thrown at the home’s front door on Main North Rd in Elizabeth Grove just after 11.15pm on Tuesday.
Fire crews quickly extinguished the blaze, which caused no structural damage.
No one was injured, and police believe the incident was not random.
Anyone who witnessed suspicious behaviour in the area is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
CAR CRASHES INTO BRICK FENCE
A man has been arrested for allegedly trespassing after he crashed his car into a brick wall in the western suburbs on Tuesday night.
Police say the man, 31, of Semaphore Park, crashed his silver Holden Berlina into a brick wall outside a West Lakes Shore home on Sansom Rd just before midnight.
Residents on Recreation Parade then saw the man in the rear yard of their home, police allege.
Officers found the man on a bicycle, which he allegedly stole, and arrested him.
He has been charged with being unlawfully on premises, theft and breach of bail.
He will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday afternoon.
TUESDAY, MAY 26
ACCUSED SHOOTER ON THE RUN
Police are searching for an accused daylight shooter who cut off his home-detention monitoring bracelet and has gone on the run.
Simon Bekiri, 38, is believed to be driving a white Mercedes sedan with registration S774BWV.
A police spokesman said Bekiri is still on the run on Wednesday morning.
He is described as 172cm tall and of solid build weighing 90kg. He has short brown hair and was last known to have a goatee beard.
Bekiri was arrested at Sydney Airport as he disembarked a flight from Thailand on March 25 and extradited to SA over a shooting at Hindmarsh last September.
Police allege two men in a white Toyota Yaris stopped in front of the male victim, who was driving a silver Commodore sedan on Orsmond St about 11am on September 16, 2019.
An altercation ensued before the man was allegedly shot in the leg. One suspect left in the Toyota while the other left in the victim’s Commodore, which was found later that day.
The man, aged in his 30s, was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with injuries not considered to be life threatening.
Bekiri was charged with aggravated causing serious harm to another and granted home-detention bail.
Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday cancelled his bail on all files and issued a further warrant for his arrest.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Bekiri or any sightings of the Mercedes should contact the police assistance line on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000.
SERIOUS CRASH AT GRANGE
A man has died after the van he was driving crashed into a bus stop at Grange.
Just after 1.30pm on Tuesday, police and emergency services were called to the intersection of Beach Street and Military Road at Grange after the van left the road and hit a bus stop.
Ambulance officers treated the driver and only occupant of the van at the scene, but the 49-year-old man from Woodville Park died.
Major Crash Investigators attended the scene and are investigating whether a medical episode can be attributed to the crash.
All roads in the area have been reopened.
Emergency Services are at the scene of a single car crash at the intersection of Beach St and Military Rd #Grange. Traffic is being diverted, please take an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/htYCuOPRxi
— South Australia Police (@SAPoliceNews) May 26, 2020
POLICE SEEK INFORMATION ON FIREARMS THEFT
Police have released images of a car they believe may have been used by a suspect in a break-in at Para Hills earlier this year, where seven firearms were taken.
A house on Billabong Rd was broken into on Wednesday March 18 and seven firearms were taken from a gun safe.
A late ‘90s maroon Holden sedan with distinctive silver wheels and a loud exhaust was seen in the street around the time of the offence, and the police would like to speak to the owner to determine who was driving the car at the time.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.
CLOTHES DRYER SPARKS HOUSE FIRE
A house north of Adelaide has been destroyed after a clothes dryer started a fire in the early hours of this morning.
Twenty CFS volunteers rushed to the home on Glover Rd in Two Wells just after 2.30am.
A smoke alarm alerted the occupants to the blaze and they all evacuated safely.
The home, however, could not be saved as the fire completely destroyed it.
The damage bill is estimated at $200,000.
A CFS spokeswoman said the blaze was sparked by an unattended clothes dryer.
Read more on this story here
WOMAN ARRESTED OVER HIT-RUN
A woman has been arrested after allegedly kicking a man out of his car and running him over at the weekend.
The woman, 37, of Gawler, was driving a Holden station wagon with a man in the passenger seat on Bagster Rd in Salisbury North about 2.15am on Sunday.
Police allege the pair had an argument before the woman forced the man out of the vehicle.
She then allegedly accelerated towards the man and hit him on the footpath.
She crashed into a tree before driving away from the scene.
Police arrested the woman on Monday and charged her with causing serious harm by use of a vehicle and other traffic offences.
She was refused bail to appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
MONDAY, MAY 25
MAN, 79, STABBED WHILE ON MORNING WALK
A man has been stabbed on his morning walk at Findon.
About 6.30am on Monday, the 79-year-old victim was walking on the eastern side of Findon Rd, about 100m north of Grange Rd, when he was struck on the back by an unknown person.
When the victim arrived home, he discovered he’d been stabbed with an unknown object.
Police were called to the scene about 8.15am and searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
The victim was taken by ambulance to the Royal Adelaide Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The suspect is described as being a man, approximately 183cm tall and aged in his 20s. He did not speak to the victim.
Police ask if anyone has any information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online. You can remain anonymous.
POLICE FIND, ARREST WANTED MAN
Police have arrested wanted man Dennis Sewell.
Sewell, 34, was found at a Tailem Bend home just after 1am this morning and was taken into custody without incident.
He was wanted for breaching his bail conditions and serious domestic violence offending.
Police are interviewing Sewell and he is yet to be charged.
The arrest came after armed police descended on Tailem Bend yesterday to find the wanted man.
Nine News reported houses in the town were locked down for several hours as police went door to door, with guns drawn.
#EXCLUSIVE: As we go to air tonight police are hunting for a wanted man who they fear could be armed and dangerous. @katelambe_ #9News pic.twitter.com/5ZnM3FoEgz
— Nine News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) May 24, 2020
UP TO 40 PEOPLE IN MELEE AT CEDUNA
Up to 40 people have been involved in a fight in Ceduna, with police being forced to retreat when they attempted to break up the melee.
Officers were sent to an area near Kloeden and Chadwick streets about 4.40am on Saturday in response to reports of a disturbance.
They arrived to find about 30 to 40 people fighting.
Several people sustained injuries – one man suffered a broken nose and other facial injuries.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics before he was taken to hospital for treatment.
Police were forced to retreat when members of the group began throwing glass bottles at them.
No officers were injured.
When police returned to the scene with more resources, the group had dispersed.
Officers arrested a 42-year-old Ceduna man for affray, two counts of assault and assaulting police.
He was bailed to appear in the Ceduna Magistrates Court in August and was also issued with a $1000 fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions for gatherings of more than 10 people.
Three other adults were also fined $1000 for breaching the gathering rules.
Police expect to make further arrests and ask anyone who saw the incident, or has information about it, to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report it online at crimestopperssa.com.au.
POLICE INVESTIGATING CHRISTIE DOWNS HOUSE FIRE
Police are investigating a fire that broke out at a Christie Downs home in the early hours of this morning.
At about 2.45am, the occupant of a Dewar Court home called emergency services to report a fire at the back of his property.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze, which caused extensive damage to the rear of the house.
The occupant was not injured.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
SUNDAY, MAY 24
WOMAN WANTED AFTER RUNNING OVER MAN
A woman is wanted by police after a man was pushed out of a car and allegedly run over in Salisbury North this morning.
The man and woman were driving south on Bagster Rd in a white Holden near Waterloo Corner just after 2am Sunday.
While driving the man and woman had a fight and police say the woman allegedly forced the man from the front seat of the vehicle.
She then allegedly accelerated towards the man and hit him on the footpath before striking a tree and driving off.
The registration of the vehicle is S697-BRW.
The man sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.
Police say the man and women are known to each other. Anyone with information or dashcam footage that may assist the investigation are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
SPEEDING P-PLATER CAUGHT AT CRYSTAL BROOK
A P-plate driver has lost his licence after being caught allegedly travelling more than 50km/h over the speed limit in Crystal Brook.
Just after 10pm on Saturday police detected the car travelling 162km/h in a 110km/h zone on the Augusta Highway.
The 18-year-old Tumby Bay man was issued with a $2153 fine and lost his licence for six months. Police were concerned as the driver was speeding with two passengers.
MAN ALLEGEDLY MURDERED IN GILBERTON
A man has been charged with murder following the death of a man in Gilberton, in Adelaide’s inner northeast, overnight. You can read more here
Anyone with information in relation to the incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.