Forster restaurant COVID breach dispute allegedly leads to two people charged with assault
A couple with plans to dine at a Mid-North Coast restaurant will now face court after allegedly breaching COVID-19 requirements before attacking staff, police said.
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A couple will face court over a sensational fracas at a Mid-North Coast restaurant which police say stemmed from their refusal to undertake a COVID-19 compliance check.
At about 7.15pm on Monday, the man and woman attended a Wharf St restaurant, Forster, where they were asked by staff to use the QR check-in code.
After allegedly refusing to do so, staff informed the pair that if they did not comply, they would be asked to leave.
Police allege the man, 34, refused their request a second time before allegedly picking up and throwing a glass bottle of water against a wall and smashing it.
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He was escorted from the restaurant, where police said he then punched the owner, a 39-year-old man.
The woman, 27, then allegedly bit a 44-year-old man who was attempting to intervene, which caused him to bleed from his bicep.
The owner sustained facial injuries and a suspected broken nose and was taken to Manning Base Hospital.
The man and woman left the restaurant; however, officers from Manning-Great Lakes Police District arrested them a short time later.
The man was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, affray, intimidation and malicious damage, while the woman was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
They were granted conditional bail to appear in Forster Local Court on Wednesday.
Both were issued with $1000 PINs for failing to comply with the noticed direction regarding section 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
In total, 34 PINs were issued on Monday, and of those, 16 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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