Coffs Harbour carnival brawl: teen arrested, another fled with knife

Police say one teen fled the scene with a knife and another was charged with assault, after allegedly punching a carnival worker in the head.

Coffs Jetty Carnival in full swing. Picture: Mandy Atkinson

A carnival worker was allegedly assaulted when he went to break up a group of young people yelling and swearing at passers-by on Tuesday evening around 6pm.

The 33-year-old was working at the popular carnival which is set up at the Jetty each year during the summer holidays.

He approached the group and spoke to them before a 15-year-old boy allegedly confronted him and punched him in the head.

He did not require hospital treatment.

Officers from the Coffs-Clarence Police District attended a short time later and spoke with the group of young people.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station, where he was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court the following day (Wednesday, January 19), where he was granted conditional bail to next appear at a children’s court in February.

A 14-year-old boy fled the scene before police arrived. He was stopped and spoken to by officers nearby.

He told them he was in possession of a knife which was seized by police.

He will be dealt with under the Young Offenders Act.