SA police, crime and emergency services updates for week starting June 6, 2020
Police officers have chased down two people on foot who allegedly broke into Port Adelaide Football Club at Alberton ovenight. Two others waiting in a car were also arrested.
Police & Courts
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Rolling police news for the week beginning Saturday, June 6.
SATURDAY JUNE 13
FOUR ARRESTED OVER PAFC BREAK-IN
Four people have been arrested after a break-in at Port Adelaide Football Club with police catching two suspects after a chase on foot.
Officers were called to the club after an alarm activated about 2.20am on Saturday.
When the first patrol arrived they started a search but then saw two people run from the building, allegedly dropping items as they ran.
Police chased the pair on foot and managed to catch the them at a car parked on nearby Seventh Ave, where two others were waiting inside the vehicle.
A 19-year-old man from Brompton and 16-year-old girl from Ferryden Park, who allegedly ran from the scene, were charged with serious criminal trespass and theft.
A 20-year-old man from Seaton and 16-year-old girl from Woodville Park, found in the car, were also charged with serious criminal trespass and theft.
The two men will face Port Adelaide Magistrates Court on July 22.
The two girls will appear at the Youth Court on August 6.
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
MAN CHARGED WITH SHOOTING DOG 10 TIMES
An Adelaide Hills man has been arrested for allegedly shooting a dog 10 times with a slug gun last month.
Buddy, a 14-year-old kelpie-cross, underwent urgent major surgery after his owner Tony Jones made the grim discovery on May 14.
“We found lead pellets all over his body, in his eyes and near his brain,” Mr Jones told 7NEWS Adelaide.
A man has been charged for repeatedly injuring an Adelaide Hills family's pet dog with an air rifle. https://t.co/Hhb1qdT3jl #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/WJcKNfMi6u
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) June 12, 2020
“The vets were horrified.”
The alleged shooter, a 71-year-old man from Forreston, was arrested on Thursday night.
Police have charged him with ill treatment of an animal to cause serious harm, discharge firearm and damaging property.
He was granted bail to appear in the Mount Barker Magistrates Court in September.
7NEWS Adelaide reported the vet bills totalled more than $8000.
PEDESTRIAN HIT BY TRUCK, DIES
A pedestrian has died after he was hit by a truck on Port Wakefield Rd in the early hours of Friday morning.
The pedestrian, a 57-year-old man from Old Reynella, was hit on the southbound side of the road at Mawson Lakes just before 2.30am.
He died at the scene, just north of the Salisbury Highway overpass.
The truck driver was not hurt in the crash.
Major Crash investigators have examined the scene and are piecing together what led to the fatal crash.
The southbound side of Port Wakefield Rd was closed for several hours.
Anyone who witnessed the crash, or saw the pedestrian prior to the incident, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Major crash investigators are at the scene of a serious crash on Port Wakefield Rd at Mawson Lakes where a pedestrian was hit by a semi. All southbound traffic heading to the city is being diverted at Ryan’s Rd. @7NewsAdelaide pic.twitter.com/MgU9e3L629
— Peter Caldicott (@pcaldicott7) June 11, 2020
FOUR ARRESTED AFTER STOLEN CAR ABANDONED
Four people who dumped a stolen car at Marion after a joy ride have been arrested in a taxi, police say.
The gang of men – aged 15, 18, 19 and 20 – allegedly stole a white Skoda station wagon from Wattle Park before they were spotted at South Plympton about 3.45am on Friday.
Police say the car was speeding along Marion Rd before they lost sight of the vehicle.
Less than 15 minutes later, a member of the public reported a car had been abandoned on The Parade, Marion.
Patrols found the Skoda and contacted its owner, who was unaware his Wattle Park home had been broken into overnight. The car, credit cards and mobile phones were taken.
Shortly after officers stopped a taxi leaving the area on Bombay St, Oaklands Park. It will be alleged the men were in the taxi and had stolen property linked to Wattle Park.
They were all arrested and charged with aggravated serious criminal trespass and theft. It is expected that they will face court on Friday.
The Skoda was towed from the scene for forensic examination.
THURSDAY JUNE 11
MAN ARRESTED FOR ‘STEALING’ DELIVERY VAN
A man has been arrested for allegedly pushing a delivery driver to the ground before stealing his van just north of Adelaide on Thursday.
Police say the man, 19, stole the van on Robe St at Evanston Gardens just after 12.30pm.
The owner of the van suffered grazes to his arm when he was pushed to the ground.
Patrols did not chase the alleged thief, from Evaston Gardens, as he drove the van through several Adelaide suburbs – but a PolAir helicopter was deployed.
The helicopter tracked the man for several hours before stopping on the Sturt Highway at Kingsford just before 6.30pm.
The 19-year-old was charged with robbery and illegal use.
TEENAGERS ARRESTED OVER GRAFFITI SPREE
Three teenagers have been arrested after allegedly going on a graffiti rampage through Brighton South and Seacliff Park, vandalising up to 40 different locations in the area.
A member of the public called police just before 1.30am on Thursday after spotting a group of males wearing hooded tops spray painting graffiti on the roller shutters of a shop and a fence at the intersection of Brighton and Seacombe roads.
Police patrols swooped on the area and found the group on Stevenson Ave.
The males took off and after a brief foot pursuit, three suspected were arrested but a fourth managed to escape.
Police identified between 30 to 40 fresh graffiti tags on fences, signs and other property in the area.
Two 18-year-old men, from Smithfield Plains and Oaklands Park, and a 17-year-old boy from Sturt, were charged with marking graffiti and carrying implements to mark graffiti.
They were found with spray cans in their backpacks.
Real estate agency The Property Managers, on Brighton Rd, was one of the businesses targeted while homes also copped a spray.
“These guys are 17 or 18 … haven’t they got something better to do? The pubs are open,” officer manager Glen McFarlane said.
“The poor soul up the other end on the corner, there’s graffiti all over his front fence.”
Mr McFarlane painted over the graffiti on The Property Managers’ fence this morning.
“(Graffiti) makes the whole area look terrible – and why? What do they get out of it?” he said.
“It seems quite pointless to me.”
Another Brighton Rd business Seacliff Paint and Panel was also hit.
Manager Ty Abbott said their electrical box and industrial bins were smeared with graffiti.
“The people that do the (graffiti art) pieces, that’s awesome, that’s talent – This is just mindless crap basically,” he said.
“It doesn’t make any sense.”
Police are continuing to investigate the incident and ask anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
FIRE AT KILBURN HOUSE
Police suspect arsonists are responsible for a fire at a Kilburn house in the early hours of this morning.
Emergency services were sent to a house on Garland Ave just after 4.30am in response to reports of a fire on the front porch.
Two occupants evacuated safely.
Fire crews arrived and extinguished the blaze before it could spread.
Police have deemed the fire suspicious and ask anyone with information about it to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
PEDESTRIAN KILLED IN TRUCK ACCIDENT
A pedestrian has died after being hit by a truck in the Murray Mallee Region on Wednesday night.
Emergency services were called to the Mallee Highway at Moorlands, just east of Tailem Bend, just before 6pm.
Police say a 41-year-old man from Maylands died at the scene at Moorlands after he was struck by a B-double truck.
His death brings the number of lives lost on South Australian roads so far this year to 49. Fifty-five lives were lost by same time last year.
The truck driver was uninjured.
The Mallee Highway remained closed between Kulkawurra Rd and the Dukes Highway as of 10pm tonight.
DRAG ENGINE STOLEN FROM PORT LINCOLN
A drag racing engine with a nitrous injection system has been stolen from a shed in Port Lincoln.
The Chevrolet engine, which has a MSD Grid electronic controller and a NOS Brand Big Shot nitrous system is worth more than $40,000.
It was stolen from a shed on Mortlock Tce some time between last Wednesday afternoon and the public holiday on Monday.
Police say the shed’s roller door was forced open, with thieves stealing the engine and other items such as tools.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
ELDERLY MAN, WOMAN STABBED IN MCLAREN VALE
A 81-year-old man is dead and a 78-year-woman has been left with serious injuries after a stabbing attack in McLaren Vale on Tuesday night.
A 22-year-old man has been charged with murder and attempted murder over the stabbing.
Police and paramedics were called to a home on Bond St just before 7pm after reports of a serious assault.
When they arrived, police found the body of the male occupant of the house.
His female companion was suffering serious injuries.
She was rushed to Flinders Medical Centre for treatment.
A 22-year-old man was arrested at the scene.
He was charged with murder and attempted murder.
He was denied bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today.
All the parties were known to each other and police do not believe the stabbing was a random attack.
Major Crime Officers are investigating.
Anyone who may have information regarding the attack should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00 or report it via the Crime Stoppers website.
TUESDAY, JUNE 9
CYCLIST ‘ASSAULTED’ BUS DRIVER IN ROAD RAGE INCIDENT
An angry cyclist hit a bus driver in the face multiple times before trying to rip a windscreen wiper off during a road rage incident in Adelaide’s southern suburbs last week.
Police have released CCTV images of the cyclist, who they say was unhappy with how the bus driver was driving on Diagonal Rd at Sturt just after 1.30pm last Wednesday.
The cyclist followed the bus into the Marion Shopping Centre car park, where he confronted the male driver in the vehicle’s doorway and hit him in the face.
The driver tried to retreat further down the bus, but the cyclist followed and hit him in the face again.
Police say he then left the bus and tried to pull one of the bus’ windscreen wipers off before cycling away westbound on Sturt Rd.
The cyclist is described as between 35 and 45-years-old with a solid build.
He was wearing a dark “POC” helmet with chin straps, dark cycling shorts, white shoes and a dark blue cycling jersey with a “FIASCO” logo on it.
TEEN DIES IN WHYALLA NORRIE CRASH
A teenage motorcyclist has died after crashing into a pole at Whyalla Norrie on Tuesday morning.
The crash happened at the intersection of Clutterbuck St and Hincks Ave just after 10.30am.
Police later announced the rider, a 19-year-old male from Whyalla Stuart, died at the scene.
Major Crash investigators travelled from Adelaide to examine the scene as Clutterbuck St and Hincks Ave remained closed between Jenkins and Schulze avenues for several hours.
There have now been 48 lives lost on SA roads this year compared with 54 at the same time last year.
The crash comes after SA Police conducted a traffic safety operation throughout the long weekend, resulting in zero lives lost.
However, 87 drug drivers were caught and 741 speeding offences were detected.
Major Crash Officers are attending the scene of a fatal crash in Whyalla Norrie. @SpencerGulfNN pic.twitter.com/8ISvYNSJ8K
— Laura Milovanovic (@LJMilovanovic) June 9, 2020
THREE ARRESTED AFTER NORTHERN SUBURBS PURSUIT
Tyre spikes were used to stop a stolen car during a pursuit through Dry Creek before three women were arrested.
Police patrolling Cavan Rd first saw the stolen vehicle just before 12.45am on Tuesday.
Officers tried to stop the car but the driver refused.
The Mitsubishi Magna was followed along Cavan Rd before it turned on to Port Wakefield Rd, then Waterloo Corner Rd where it turned into backstreets.
Patrols lost sight of the car, but spikes slowed the car on Waterloo Corner Rd, Burton, before it came to a stop shortly after.
The male driver ran from vehicle, but three women stayed at the scene and were arrested.
Cordons were set up around the area but the driver could not be found.
The car had been stolen from Elizabeth East about 11pm on Monday.
The three woman – 25, 26 and 33 years old from Elizabeth East, Elizabeth South and Blair Athol – were charged with failing to truly answer and illegal use of a motor vehicle.
Two women were bailed to appear at Elizabeth Magistrates Court on June 26.
The 26-year-old woman was remanded in custody and will appear in court on Tuesday.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
CAR CRASHES INTO DRAIN AT KURRALTA PARK
A man was forced to climb through a window to escape a wreckage after his car plunged five metres down a drain and landed on its side.
Officers were called to Beauchamp St, Kurralta Park, after reports a car had driven into an empty Brown Hill Creek drain about 11.40pm on Monday.
The Toyota sedan landed on its side after the fall, but its driver was able to climb out of the car through a window.
He was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital with minor injuries.
The 23-year-old from Kurralta Park was reported for driving without due care and failing to truly answer questions. He will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
MONDAY, JUNE 8
SPEEDING DRIVERS CAUGHT ON FREEWAY
Three men have been fined nearly $6000 in total for speeding on the South-Eastern Freeway.
The first, a 23-year-old motorcyclist from Mount Barker, was caught about 8.10pm on June 4 on the freeway near Verdun at 149km/h in a 110km/h zone.
The man was fined $1967 for speeding and breaching his P-plater licence.
Then about 8pm on June 6, police caught a Ford sedan going 159km/h in a 110 zone at Monarto South.
A 58-year-old Murray Bridge man lost his licence for six months and was fined $1718.
A day later about 7.15pm, also Monarto South, police detected a Toyota station wagon bearing P-plates travelling at 142km/h in a 110km/h zone.
An Elizabeth Grove man, 26, was fined $1967.
FIVE OCCUPANTS FLEE SUSPICIOUS HOUSE FIRE
Police are searching for a suspected arsonist who could be targeting a small town in the state’s South East.
The most recent incident was in the early hours of Sunday morning when a fire was lit at the front and back of an O’Loughlin St house in Nangwarry.
One of the occupants, a 23-year-old male, woke just before 2.30am to find flames at both ends of the house.
He woke the other four occupants, which included two teenage boys, and escaped the house.
He was taken to hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.
The house was gutted by the fire, which caused an estimated damage bill of $300,000.
On Sunday, fire cause investigators from Adelaide attended the town, about 30km from Mount Gambier, and declared the blaze suspicious.
Investigations are continuing into links to a spate of other deliberate fires to hit the town over the past few years, including the deliberate torching of the local football club in January last year.
The fire on January 10 was contained to the club rooms following the quick actions of Country Fire Service personnel but caused $500,000 damage.
From May 2015 to December 2016 there were seven house fires in Nangwarry.
STOLEN FORD FOUND IN HAPPY VALLEY
A 90-year-old classic car stolen from the back of an Unley property has been recovered dumped on the side of a road.
The brown 1930 Model A Ford was taken from a shed at the home sometime between May 31 and Saturday.
Police put out a call for assistance to find the distinctive car.
The car could not be driven and the victim has the only set of keys.
Police say it appears the vehicle has been towed or placed on a trailer and removed from the property.
An anonymous phone call to Crime Stoppers led police to the car dumped on the side of Candy Rd in Happy Valley.
It has been returned to its owner and investigations into the theft are continuing.
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
TWO MEN ARRESTED AFTER SCOOTER RIDER ATTACKED, MOPED STOLEN
Two men have attacked a scooter rider before stealing his moped at Ridgehaven.
Police were called to a restaurant on the corner of North East and Golden Grove roads at about 8.15pm Saturday night in response to reports of two men assaulting a scooter rider.
The men then rode off on the victim’s moped.
Paramedics treated the victim, who sustained minor injuries, at the scene.
Police received reports of several sightings of the scooter but it was eventually dumped in Spring Hill Court, Golden Grove.
Officers searched the area and arrested two suspects soon after.
A 20-year-old Andrews Farm man and an 18-year-old Brahma Lodge man were both charged with aggravated robbery.
The Andrews Farm man was refused police bail and will appear in court on Tuesday while the Brahma Lodge man was bailed to appear in court at a later date.
WOMAN ARRESTED OVER STABBING ATTACK
A woman is in custody after allegedly stabbing a man in the stomach in Adelaide’s north.
The incident occurred at a Mawson Lakes home just before 9pm last night.
Police arrived at the property to find a 54-year-old man with a non-life-threatening stab wound to the stomach.
He was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for treatment.
A 51-year-old woman at the address was arrested and charged with aggravated assault causing serious harm.
She did not apply for police bail and will appear in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
SATURDAY JUNE 6
TWO PEOPLE POISONED BY GAS HEATER FUMES
Two people had to be revived by paramedics after they were overcome by fumes from a gas heater on the Adelaide Plains.
Emergency services were sent to a property on Davis Rd, Lower Light just before 9pm last night after a family member reported two people unconscious in a shed.
Paramedics performed CPR on both people and managed to revive them before rushing them to the Lyell McEwin Hospital.
Their condition is unknown at this stage.
A CFS spokeswoman said the cause of the carbon monoxide poisoning was “the use of a generator in a shed without proper ventilation”.
“This is a reminder to people to not use outdoor appliances indoors,” she said.
“It also relates to the use of outdoor gas heaters under a veranda. Ensure there is enough airflow to ventilate the area properly.”
MAN VICTIM OF POOR DART AIM
A man has been stabbed in the face by a wayward dart in Adelaide’s north.
The 50-year-old man was accidentally hit by a thrown dart at a house in Elizabeth East just after 8.30pm last night.
Paramedics attended the scene and treated the man’s injury, which was not life-threatening.
He did not require hospitalisation.