Coronavirus NSW: Man arrested at Bondi Beach for allegedly coughing on police
A man wearing a cast on his arm allegedly coughed on police, claiming he had COVID-19, after he refused to leave Bondi Beach on Sunday while people across the state continued to flout social distancing restrictions and copped fines and more.
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A man wearing a cast on his arm allegedly coughed on police, claiming he had COVID-19, after he refused to leave Bondi Beach on Sunday.
Bondi lifeguards called police about 9am, telling them a 21-year-old man was ignoring signs that the beach was closed.
“Officers spoke with a 21-year-old man and cautioned him for failing to comply with terms of notice erected by council,” police said in a statement. When the man allegedly refused the move-on directions by officers, he was arrested.
“During the arrest the man allegedly coughed at an officer and claimed to have COVID-19,” the statement said.
Police later said they had confirmation the man was not COVID-19 positive.
Images capturing the man’s arrest show him pinned by officers against the metal rail above the sands at Bondi, with a cast covering his right arm.
He was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with fail to comply with terms of notice erected by council, fail or refuse to comply with requirement of police officer, resist officer in execution of duty and intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm.
He was refused police bail to appear at Central Local Court on Monday.
SOCIAL ISOLATION BREACHES ACROSS NSW
People attending barbeques, gathering to drink together in groups and one woman who told police she was driving around because she was bored at home were among those who were cautioned and charged by police for breaching social distancing rules at the weekend.
Police issued 18 new Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) in relation to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act.
In the early hours of Saturday morning officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command attended the Lilli Pilli Baths, in Lilli Pilli, following reports of a gathering of people not adhering to social distancing regulations.
Police spoke with four men – aged 22, 24, 19 and 19 – who were drinking and having a barbeque. Officers reminded them of their requirements under the Public Health Act and asked them to move on; however, the men became argumentative and refused to leave. All three men were issued with infringement notices.
Two people were given PINs and three people received cautions after gathering for a barbeque in the state’s north.
Officers attached to New England Police District responded to a noise complaint at a caravan park on Rouse Street, Tenterfield about 11pm on Saturday night.
Five people were in the bungalow; breaching ministerial orders related to the congregation of more than two people.
A 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were identified as people who had previously received cautions for not complying with ministerial directions and were fined $1000.
The three others were issued with cautions.
A passenger in a car being driven by a food delivery driver has been issued with a PIN by officers from Quakers Hill Police Area Command. Police stopped the vehicle about midday on Saturday and spoke with two people in the car.
The driver was employed delivering food; however, police allege the 33-year-old woman from Toongabbie, who was the front-seat passenger, was only there because she said she was bored being at home.
About 2.30pm on Friday 3 April 2020, officers from Murrumbidgee Police District were called to Benerembah Lane, Griffith, following reports of an intoxicated person. A 55-year-old man was spoken to and moved on from the area. At 4pm the same day, officers returned after the man was seen again in that location and could not provide a legitimate reason for being there. Police were also made aware that he had been warned to obey social distancing regulations on Tuesday 31 March 2020. The man was issued a penalty infringement notice (PIN).
About 5pm on Friday police attached to New England Police District attended a licensed premise in Tenterfield Street, Deepwater. They spoke to a 27-year-old man, who was sitting with a group of patrons drinking. He was issued with a PIN as he had been spoken to by police the previous day about social-distancing and issued with a warning.
A 37-year-old Newtown man has been issued with a PIN after officers from Inner West PAC spoke with him twice on Friday night about breaching the Public Health Act. Police spoke with the man on Federation Road about 8.30pm on Friday, where he was warned about associating with four other adults. About two hours later, the same man was stopped on King Street, Newtown, and was then issued with a PIN.
About 8.30pm Friday 3 April 2020, officers from Bankstown Police Area Command noticed a car double parked in Restwell Street, Bankstown.
Officers pulled over the car and spoke to the 20-year-old female driver and her 21-year-old female passenger. The pair were unable to provide a valid reason for driving around. The passenger provided incorrect identification information to the police and become argumentative. She was issued with a PIN. The driver was issued with an official move on direction.
Just after 10.30pm on Friday officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command were patrolling San Cristobal Drive, Green Valley, when they saw three men – one aged 36 and two 18-year-olds – not obeying social distancing regulations. The men were spoken to and could not provide a legitimate reason for being there. Two of the men had allegedly exited a vehicle believed to have been stolen. All three were issued PINs. Investigations regarding the vehicle are continuing.
At 1.15am Saturday 4 April 2020, officers from Bankstown Police Area Command pulled over a car after it had allegedly accelerated away after seeing police on Edgar Street, Bankstown. The 30-year-old driver was spoken to by police about his reason for driving. He was unable to provide a valid reason and changed his version several times and continued to be argumentative with police. He was issued with a PIN.
A 38-year-old woman was issued with a PIN after she was found drinking with six people in Jonson Street, Byron Bay, just before 6pm on Saturday, in breach of the Public Health Act. Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District had issued a warning to the woman earlier in the day.
Police investigating an alleged assault at a home in Goulburn have issued two men with PINs for breaching the Public Health Act. Officers from The Hume Police District were called to the home in Teece Place about 9.20pm on Saturday, after a 34-year-old man sustained a cut above his eye. He was treated at Goulburn Hospital and released. Police later issued him and his 24-year-old friend with a PIN; inquiries are continuing into the alleged assault.
And a man was issued with a PIN after being stopped at the Sydney Opera House about 10.15pm on Saturday. Officers from Sydney City PAC had already issued the man with a warning about breaching the Public Health Act on April 1.