Man arrested after ‘deliberately coughing’ at female police officer
A man has been charged after allegedly deliberately coughing at a 71-year-old police officer while pretending to have coronavirus, forcing Coffs Harbour police station to shut down. WATCH THE VIDEO.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police have arrested a man for a sickening coronavirus prank on a 71-year-old police officer which forced Coffs Harbour police station into lockdown.
The 21-year-old was in the police station at about 2:30pm yesterday for his daily reporting as part of his parole when police allege he deliberately coughed at the female officer and claimed he had tested positive for coronavirus.
It was the second incident on the same day — on Tuesday a Hunter Valley man allegedly claimed he had coronavirus and coughed on a police officer to get out of a breath test.
The entire ‘prank’ at Coffs Harbour police station was captured by the 21-year-old man and his female friend on video.
MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Rental relief: Six month ban on NSW evictions
Menai Marketplace staff member contracts COVID-19
“I’m here to report … sorry I’ve been tested positive for that coronavirus,” the man said after filming himself coughing.
“Then what are you doing in here?” the police officer asked. “Do you honestly think that’s funny?”
In the video, station staff can be seen enacting isolation procedures.
The man can be heard saying it’s “a little bit of a laugh”.
His female friend then said: “He doesn’t have coronavirus, he’s just being a d*** head”.
The female police officer replied: “You’re causing hysteria throughout a public place, what a ridiculous thing to do.”
At the end of the video which was uploaded to Facebook, the man was arrested and charged with stalk/intimidate intending fear physical harm, and resisting or hindering a police officer in the execution of duty.
The incident is just of several captured on video including a woman who coughed on a bar patron in Sydney after being told to move due to social distancing, shouting “it’s just a virus”.
Last month a woman made international headlines after she was captured coughing on a man on a Sydney train after he asked her to cover her mouth.
In the exchange which was filmed by ABC journalist Andy Park, the woman said “I don’t have the pandemic” after coughing at the man opposite her.