Police to continue ramped up enforcement efforts after Easter assaults in Surfers Paradise
Police say they will continue their crackdown of the city’s party precinct after two officers were been knocked out cold in separate attacks outside a popular Glitter Strip nightclub.
Gold Coast
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Police say they will continue their crackdown of the city’s party precinct after two officers were knocked out over Easter.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said “high visibility” patrols in Surfers Paradise were increased over the Anzac Day weekend, and a “number of venues” visited to ensure operators complied with liquor licensing standards and responsible service of alcohol.
“Whilst the safe-night precinct was very busy – the crowds were very well behaved and we had no significant incidents reported,” Supt Wildman said.
“Not only did we have more officers but we also had a targeted approach in relation to where they would be deployed – to make sure we maximised that high-visibility presence around transport hubs, Cavill Avenue and the venues themselves.”
He said 671 individual wandings were conducted on Saturday night alone.
“The good news is that no weapons were identified. However, police identified six individuals that were in possession of dangerous drugs,” Supt Wildman said.
Those people were charged.
Supt Wildman said: “Despite the wanding trial wrapping up on April 30 after 12 months... preventative enforcement efforts will continue in our safe night precinct.”
The police crackdown was sparked after two officers were knocked out cold in separate attacks on Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday.
Both were outside the Havana RnB nightclub on Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise.
Supt Wildman deemed the attacks as “abhorrent”.
Three men have been charged and are before the courts.
Police attacked, knocked out in party hub – two accused face court. April 18
The Gold Coast’s top cop says two separate alleged party precinct assaults on police – leaving them unconscious - are “abhorrent” as the accused walk free on bail.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said he had “no other words” to convey how he was feeling about staff being attacked in such violent fashion “while doing their job and doing what they love”.
An officer was knocked out cold on Saturday night before a second suffered the same fate on Sunday night. The two separate incidents were outside Havana RnB nightclub on Orchid Avenue in Surfers Paradise.
“It’s abhorrent what has occurred over the weekend,” Acting Chief Supt. Wildman said. “It’s extremely upsetting to have your own staff be put into this position, especially when it has involved an alleged coward punch. It’s just beyond words.”
In the first of the two alleged assaults, police were called to Orchid Avenue, in the heart of the Surfers Paradise party precinct, to reports of a brawl involving five inebriated men about 11.45pm on Saturday.
Supt Wildman said the incident started inside the nightclub with “multiple significant disturbances” before spilling out onto Orchid Avenue.
As the two officers, aged in their 40s, moved to break up the brawl, a 21-year-old Coomera man allegedly hit a senior constable in the back of the head, leaving him unconscious on the footpath. The other officer, also a senior constable, received facial injuries.
Another 43-year-old male was initially charged over the incident involving the second officer but later had them dropped by police after it was reviewed and deemed “accidental in nature”.
Supt Wildman said he couldn’t describe the alleged attack on the first officer by any other term than an alleged “coward punch.”
“It was a very close call, and luckily, the officer has not sustained any significant injuries. It highlights the risk these officers face on a daily basis. Members of the community that decide to take this course of action need to be aware that one punch can kill and can change the course of someone’s life forever,” Mr Wildman alleged.
The Coomera man was charged with one count of serious assault police and one count of obstruct police. After being taken into custody, he was bailed and is expected to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on May 3.
Supt Wildman highlighted the “serious nature” of the charge, which he said carried a maximum prison term of seven years.
The injured officers have since been released from hospital.
In a related incident, officers are investigating a 36-year-old male who police allege was involved in the early disturbances.
He was arrested by police and charged with public nuisance as well as possessing a dangerous drug after a search yielded 2.5 grams of “white powder.”
He will appear in Southport Magistrates Court later in May.
In a separate incident on Sunday night, which also occurred outside the same nightclub, a 34-year-old Surfers Paradise Senior Constable sustained a serious facial injury after being knocked unconscious in an alleged assault.
It is understood police tried to wand a man, 28, after he was refused entry into the venue when the alleged police assault took place just before 9.30pm.
The man had to be tasered by other police.
The officer, believed to have suffered a fractured jaw, is awaiting medical advice for confirmation.
The 28-year-old accused who is from Victoria was charged with one count each of serious assault police and contravene direction or requirement – licenced premises and three counts each of obstruct police.
He was held in custody overnight and has since made bail after appearing in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
All men were issued safe night precinct banning notices.
Supt Wildman said: “Generally our safe night precincts are extremely safe, some of the safest in the world.
“Here on the Coast we have around 1100 officers. Those men and women are out there every day doing their best to support the community and keep them safe.” he said.
“What we’ve found here is two occasional incidences, that whilst are horrific - are not the norm across our safe night precincts. Generally it is safe for our officers to operate in these precincts and for the community to come and visit.”
Responsible service of alcohol in the Gold Coast’s party precinct will come under the microscope after the attacks.
Havana general manager Tim Martin – also the Surfers Paradise Licensed Venues Association president - was contacted for comment.
Crackdown after cop ‘coward-punched
Earlier: Responsible service of alcohol in the Gold Coast’s party precinct will come under the microscope after a police officer was allegedly king-hit outside a Surfers Paradise nightclub.
Another officer also allegedly suffered facial injuries during the incident which took place in Orchid Ave, outside Havana RnB Nightclub, about 11.45pm on Saturday.
Police were called to the heart of the party precinct to reports of a brawl involving five inebriated men.
As the two officers, aged in their 40s, moved to break up the brawl, a 21-year-old Coomera man allegedly hit a senior constable in the back of the head, leaving him unconscious on the footpath. The other officer, also a senior constable, received facial injuries.
It’s understood the commotion outside the club was linked to an earlier incident inside the venue.
Gold Coast police Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said inquiries into the alleged attack were ongoing.
“We do not have these kinds of incidents occur on a regular basis and this was a one-off type of event, however we are treating this very seriously,” he said.
“As part of our further investigations, we will be reviewing responsible service of alcohol in the precinct to ensure everyone is doing their part to prevent incidents like this.
“I don’t want to see my officers injured like this.”
The Coomera man was charged with one count of serious assault police and one count of obstruct police.
43-year-old Doolandella man was charged with one count of obstruct police and one count of public nuisance.
Both were expected to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
They were also issued with a banning notice from the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach Safe Night Precincts.
The injured police officers were taken to Pindara Private Hospital in Benowa but were discharged on Sunday morning.
Queensland Police Union vice president Shane Prior told media on Sunday officers went to work to protect the community, not to be assaulted.
“We as police are appalled by this vicious attack of thuggery and cowardice,” he said.
Woman ‘critical’ after being found submerged in pool
April 16: A woman was rushed to hospital after being found submerged in a Gold Coast swimming pool on Saturday
Emergency services were called to an apartment building on Marine Pde at Labrador after reports a woman, believed to be in her 30s, was “submerged” in water.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said the woman was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.
Drunk driver crashes
April 14: Police believe a Gold Coast man was drunk when he lost control of his BMW and ploughed into the veranda of an elderly couple’s Arundel home.
Gold Coast police were notified after the car careened into the Marble Arch Place, Arundel residence about 10.20pm on Thursday.
A witness at the scene told the Bulletin the house sustained structural damage.
“There was elderly occupants inside the house at the time, but there was no injuries,” he said.
Emergency services including Queensland Police, Queensland Ambulance and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services attended after the crash.
Police officers took a 38-year-old Arundel man to hospital, where his blood was taken for testing.
“Police are investigating whether drink driving was a contributing factor in an incident in which a BMW crashed into a house on Marble Arch Place,” a police spokesman confirmed.
No charges had been laid as of 9am on Friday.
It’s understood it could take months for the blood testing results to be returned.
The alleged drink driving crash comes as police have ramped up patrols over the Easter period.
Motorists have been warned they can expect to see officers anywhere at anytime on the roads over the four-day weekend.
“At times like these, we know Queenslanders are most vulnerable to road trauma and that’s why we are reminding motorists everywhere, whether they are hitting the highway or the beach to put their own and their passengers’ safety first,” Acting Chief Superintendent Ray Rohweder said.
“We know it’s a beautiful time of the year to be out and about and to make the most of visiting family and beautiful sites in Queensland and interstate.
“Police will be promoting road safety in Easter holiday traffic thoroughfares and beach driving areas throughout the state anywhere, and at anytime.
“It’s imperative that you be patient, plan your journey properly and avoid driving fatigued.
“Please remember that every decision you make on the road this Easter, counts.”
Six people lost their lives on Queensland roads last Easter long weekend.
Police have urged drivers to keep off the roads if they are consuming alcohol over the holiday period.
Woman rushed to hospital after car flips on busy road
April 13: A woman in her 50s has been seriously injured and rushed to hospital after losing control of her car and flipping it on a busy Southport street on Wednesday afternoon.
Shortly after 1pm, Critical Care Paramedics and the High Acuity Response Unit attended the scene of the crash on Marine Parade.
She was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeperson said the extent of the woman’s injuries are not known.
Man arrested after hand slashing
April 10: New South Wales Police arrested a 21-year-old Tweed Heads man on Friday after he allegedly slashed another man’s hand, with the injury resulting in surgery.
Police allege at around 12:18am, the man brandished a knife in a physical altercation outside a licensed venue on Wharf Street in Tweed Heads.
It is alleged when the male victim intervened, his hand was slashed with the knife.
The alleged offender and several witnesses then fled the scene.
A crime scene was then established and emergency services attended.
Further investigations led police to an address in Tweed Heads, where the alleged attacker was arrested and charged with wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, armed with intent to commit indictable offence and attempt to intimidate and cause fear of harm.
The man’s bail has been refused and he will remain in custody until June 6, where he will appear in Tweed Heads Local Court.
Woman injured after car crashes into wall at Bunnings
April 7: A woman has been injured after a car collided with a wall at a Gold Coast Bunnings store.
Emergency services rushed to Bunnings Arundel on Brisbane Rd about 3pm Thursday following reports of a single vehicle crash.
Police said a 20-year-old woman was in the car when it collided with a wall, which caused the airbags to deploy.
A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said a person was being assessed at the scene in a stable condition.
Delays flagged after truck rolls on M1 at Gold Coast
April 7: Police have flagged likely delays on the Pacific Motorway on the Gold Coast after a truck left the road and rolled.
Emergency services were called to the southbound lanes of the M1 near exit 66 at Arundel about 9.15am on Wednesday, a Gold Coast police spokeswoman said.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics treated a man aged in his 20s, the truck driver, for a suspected head injury.
The man was dazed after he escaped from the wreckage of the truck.
He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition, a QAS spokeswoman said.
Police warned motorists to expect delays on the motorway.
Earlier, QAS paramedics were called after a car driven by a woman in the 90s crashed into a tree on Franklin Dr at Mudgeeraba.
She was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, suffering from chest pain after the crash about 8.50am.
Paramedics were also called to a workplace on Guineas Creek Rd at Elanora after a woman suffered a “small electric shock” about 8.10am.
She was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Warning as car keys swiped from gym lockers by devious thieves
April 6: Police have urged gym-goers to secure keys to their vehicles while working out after a spate of brazen car thefts involving the raiding of storage lockers across the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
Three cars have been “stolen from gymnasium car parks” in recent days across the southeast, before they were sighted in the Moreton area, north of Brisbane, Queensland Police stated.
A set of car keys were swiped from a storage locker at a gym in a shopping complex on Beckett Rd in the northern Brisbane suburb of McDowall sometime between 9pm and 10.50pm on Saturday, April 2.
“The keys were then used to steal a white 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer from the carpark, belonging to a 22-year-old man,” police stated.
A few days later, a set of keys were stolen from a communal locker area at a gym on Southport Nerang Rd at Molendinar sometime between 9.20am and 10.50am on Monday, April 4.
“The keys were then used to steal a white 2002 Toyota Camry from the carpark, belonging to a 60-year-old man,” police stated.
Later that day, keys were stolen from a storage locker at a gym on Coomera Grand Dr at Coomera, sometime between 12.30pm and 1.30pm.
“The keys were then used to steal a grey 2015 Mazda CX-5 from the carpark, belonging to a 26-year-old man,” police stated.
“All three cars have subsequently been sighted in the Moreton area, prompting a warning to residents to always ensure their keys, mobile phones, handbags and wallets are stored out of sight and – if possible – in a locked, secure area when at the gym.”
Police investigations into the three car thefts were ongoing on Wednesday morning.
Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Boys arrested after crashing stolen sedan into pole, parked cars: Police
Earlier: A group of boys as young as 13 have been “assisting police“ with investigations after they allegedly crashed a stolen sedan into a pole and two luxury cars on the Gold Coast.
Police were called to Paradise Parade at Paradise Point after a 2008 Honda Accord “crashed into two parked cars”, a 2010 Mercedes and a 2019 Mercedes, and “fixtures on the road like poles” about 10.15pm on Tuesday, a Gold Coast police spokeswoman said.
Two 14-year-old boys, a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy “were located nearby” in Donald Ave, while the Honda was found two streets down in Muscovey Ave.
Police believe the Honda Accord was stolen from Sunnybank at Brisbane between 1.10pm on Monday, April 4 and 5.15am on Tuesday, April 5.
Police investigations were ongoing on Wednesday morning.
Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Man armed with gel blaster arrested on Gold Coast: Police
April 5: Police have arrested a man who was allegedly armed with a gel blaster in Palm Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
A Gold Coast police spokesman said they were called to an incident where they suspected the man would harm himself.
A Palm Beach resident posted to their community page at 5.30pm warning others to ‘stay away from Laguna park’.
“Don’t know what is happening but police are telling everyone to leave urgently,” she said.
Commenters also saw there was Polair circling the area.
Gold Coast police said they had arrested the man.
Worker threatened during terrifying ram raid robbery
April 4: Police are looking for several offenders who reversed into a Gold Coast convenience store and threatened the lone female manager overnight.
Queensland police released the shocking footage of the stolen blue BMW sedan smashing through a Burleigh Waters convenience store at 4.40am on Monday morning.
They said a 64-year-old female manager was cleaning inside the shop when the offenders drove into the store and threatened her before stealing cigarettes.
The offenders fled the scene.
Earlier in the morning, at 2.30am, the same offenders used the car to break into another convenience store in Ashgrove.
Police are seeking any witnesses who saw either of the incidents to contact 1800 333 000.
Earlier Gold Coast Police were investigating what appeared to be bullet holes in the garage and front entry of a Hope Island residence.
Police said no one was at the Northwater Driver residence at the time of the incident.
Investigations are ongoing.
Polair tracks two men in stolen vehicle
March 30: Police tracked down and arrested two men in a stolen vehicle after a helicopter and patrol car chase on Wednesday
A Queensland Police spokesman said the men had stolen the car from a property in Maudsland on March 29.
The spokesman said the car was spotted on Wednesday morning in Reedy Creek.
Multiple police cars and a helicopter tracked the vehicle as it crossed the border and returned into the Gold Coast.
The stolen car was stopped at Hutchinson St in Burleigh Heads with a tire deflating device around 1pm.
The two men remain in custody.
Appliance blamed for Gold Coast house fire
March 29: crews have responded to a house fire that is suspected to have been caused by an everyday electrical appliance.
Reports a blaze had broken out inside a two-storey property along Lancashire Dr, Mudgeeraba emerged just after 9am Tuesday.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokesman told the Bulletin two crews observed smoke coming from the ceiling upon arrival.
#Mudgeeraba - Paramedics are on standby at a house fire at 9.25am. One patient was assessed but thankfully uninjured.
— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) March 29, 2022
He said two firefighters in breathing apparatus entered the property about 9.30am and exited about 30 minutes later.
It is understood the blaze originated in the kitchen and may have been caused by a fridge.
The spokesman said all occupants of the property had been accounted for.
A woman was uninjured and in a stable condition, according to Queensland Ambulance.
Queensland Police were also in attendance.
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