Neighbours complained many times about Murray Bridge unit where party guests threw bottles at SA police officers, trashed car
Several people have been charged after a police car was pelted with rocks and bottles outside a Murray Bridge home. They have also been fined for breaking COVID-19 restrictions.
Police & Courts
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Police have charged four people over a “violent disturbance” where officers were forced to retreat on foot after guests at a Murray Bridge party smashed their patrol car with rocks.
Neighbours said the unit was regularly visited by police over noise issues, saying they had made dozens of complaints about the property over the past two years.
Police were sent to Myall Ave just before 2am on Friday morning in response to reports of noisy music and a large gathering at a house in the street.
Officers arrived to find about 20 seemingly intoxicated people at the house and they soon became aggressive towards the patrol.
The incident escalated and police used capsicum spray to try to subdue the guests and called for back-up.
The officers were then forced to retreat after the group starting throwing bottles at them.
They abandoned their patrol car in the street.
The vehicle was eventually retrieved but was extensively damaged. The front windscreen was shattered by a large rock while a rear window was smashed and side panels were also damaged. The officers were not injured in the attack.
Neighbours said police were frequently called to the property over noise complaints about gatherings in its carport.
“There was a party there last Thursday night, another one on Tuesday night and a big one last night (Thursday night) so someone rang the police,” said one neighbour, who asked not be named.
“A male police officer and a female police officer went to go to the front door and a woman came out and started abusing them.
“They backed away across the road and the others who were in the carport came out and started throwing bottles at them.
“Three more police cars then turned up and all hell broke loose.”
The neighbour said at least 20 people kept throwing objects, including bottles, before one male picked up a large rock from a garden and threw it through a police car’s windscreen.
“One guy climbed up on to the police car and jumped up and down on its roof,” he said.
“Others just started kicking it and smashing bottles.”
The neighbour said police reinforcements continued to arrive, with the melee moving from Myall Ave and Mulgundawah Rd.
“It went for a good hour, half an hour,” he said.
“All this noise, shouting and screaming. I’ve never seen or heard anything like it in my life.”
The neighbours said they had made at least 50 complaints about the property over the past two years, while ambulances and police had been called to two fatal overdoses.
“It has been going on for years and it is getting worse and worse, the cops keep coming and nothing gets done,” he said.
Police on Friday morning took six people away from the unit in paddy wagons, with eight police vehicles and around 16 uniformed officers attending.
A 25-year-old Murray Bridge man and 18-year-old woman from Raukkan were charged with aggravated affray.
A 17-year-old male was also charged with aggravated affray, property damage and two counts of throw missile.
They were all bailed and will face court at a later date.
A 24-year-old man from Murray Bridge also charged with aggravated affray was refused police bail.
They were all issued with on-the-spot fines of $1000 under COVID-19 regulations for breaching social distancing and having more than 10 people at a gathering.
The investigation is ongoing and there may be further arrests
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.