Police charge 12 over street disturbance following arrest of Algen Donahue on assault charge
Shocking footage has revealed an angry mob taking to the street and throwing rocks at police vehicles in new unrest stemming from unresolved tensions following the police shooting of Aubrey Donahue.
Cairns
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Shocking footage has revealed an angry mob taking to the street and throwing rocks at police vehicles in new unrest understood to stem from unresolved tensions following the police shooting of Aubrey Donahue earlier this year.
Last Sunday the situation came to a head when a furious mob made up of about 30 Mareeba residents targeted police vehicles with rocks.
In a disturbing video recorded at the scene cries heard calling for cars to be set alight, police officers to be dragged out of their vehicles, and smashing glass.
“Drag the motherf***er out of the vehicle,” one man can be heard yelling in the footage.
Police allege at 2.30pm, a large group tried to obstruct the arrest of 27-year-old Algen Donahue, charged with assault occasioning bodily harm (domestic violence offence) and contravention of domestic violence order during which multiple vehicles were damaged and an officer providing crowd management was struck in the face.
The officer did not require medical attention.
Mr Donahue is the twin brother of Aubrey Donahue, who was shot dead by police during a four-hour siege at Love Street on Saturday, March 25.
He appeared in court in Cairns on Monday, November 27 on charges of assault occasioning bodily harm while armed/in company, common assault, obstructing a police officer, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used and serious assault of a police officer.
His matter was adjourned to December 20.
Atherton Tablelands youth worker and creator of the Mareeba Enough is Enough Facebook page Ken Harley said carry-over ill feeling toward law enforcement was still being felt in the town following Aubrey’s shooting.
“It’s a filthy mess, if justice could be seen to be done it would be a different story,” he said.
“You have the anger of the people and the cops taking a hard line, and after the shooting of Aubrey Donahue, they have not let that go.
“On hot days they are your worst days, they are going to demonstrate in the street, it’s a mess and it’s really complicated.”
Police have now charged 12 people following the violence at Earl Street on the afternoon of Sunday, November 26.
They include a 16-year-old Mareeba boy charged with one count each of wilful damage, serious assault police officer, unlawful use of motor vehicle, enter dwelling and breach of bail condition.
He was refused bail and will reappear in the Mareeba Childrens Court.
A 15-year-old Mareeba boy was charged with one count each of commit public nuisance and stealing, two counts each of enter premises and commit indictable offence by break and unlawful use of motor vehicle, three counts of wilful damage of police property and six counts of breach of bail condition.
He was refused bail and will appear in the Atherton Childrens Court.
A 16-year-old Atherton boy was charged with one count each of wilful damage, enter premises, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and commit public nuisance.
He is scheduled to appear in the Atherton Magistrates Court at a later date.
An 18-year-old Mareeba man was charged with one count each of wilful damage and wilful damage of police property.
He is scheduled to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on December 18.
A 22-year-old Mareeba man was charged with one count each of wilful damage and commit public nuisance.
He is scheduled to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on December 18.
A 25-year-old Mareeba man was charged with one count of wilful damage.
He is scheduled to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on December 18.
A 31-year-old man was charged with one count of commit public nuisance.
He is scheduled to appear in the Mareeba Magistrates Court on December 18.
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Originally published as Police charge 12 over street disturbance following arrest of Algen Donahue on assault charge
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