Three teens charged as senior cop assaulted during melee at Maccas
A senior policeman has allegedly had his phone and badge stolen during an alleged altercation with a group of teenagers in a McDonalds car park.
Police & Courts
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A group of teenagers who allegedly assaulted a senior police officer before stealing his phone and taunting him with his badge have today been granted bail.
The four young men, aged between 16 and 17, live on the Northern Beaches and appeared in Parramatta Children’s Court today.
They were all granted bail but must adhere to a curfew and not contact each other.
Magistrate Jacqueline Trad said police allegations contained in court documents showed NSW police had a strong case against the teenagers.
“It is very distressing to see when you read these … in relation to a young person, who has only briefly dealt with police,” she said.
“It is quite concerning. These are very serious allegations, if further allegations like this are put against you, you need to understand you can remain in custody.”
All four men were represented by legal aid solicitors who said the boys did not have criminal records and were largely well behaved.
Two of the youths are undertaking apprenticeships. One as a mechanic and the other as a plumber.
Another is due to start a carpentry apprenticeship on Monday.
The fourth boy is still a student at high school.
The brawl appears to have started after a senior police officer went to break up a fight at a McDonald’s restaurant in Warriewood.
He was allegedly set upon by the teenagers when in the carpark.
One of the boys is accused of filming the attack and the video appears to show the teens taunting the officer.
In the video somebody can be heard shouting: “Get the f*** off him! Oi! Get off him cuz. He hasn’t done anything wrong!” and “What’s your badge number? What’s your badge number?”
The chief inspector was knocked to the ground, with the teenagers allegedly taking off with his mobile phone.
The officer spent Saturday morning in hospital undergoing tests.
All four teens are due to appear at Surry Hills Children’s Court on June 24.
The case comes after the Berejiklian government yesterday said it would launch a parliamentary inquiry into assaults against police following the allegedly robbery and attack on the senior officer and a string of other assaults against frontline police.
The inquiry, signed off by Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Saturday afternoon, will examine increasing penalties and rising rates of anti-police violence.
It also comes after The Daily Telegraph campaign, Stand Up For Cops, highlighting the brave officers dealing with increasing public disrespect.
The inquiry will be headed by Mark Taylor, the parliamentary secretary for police and a former police prosecutor
“It’s a strange society where we are told watching Gone With the Wind is somehow disrespectful but it’s OK to bash a police officer,” Police Minister David Elliott said.
“Parliament needs to investigate what community standards are in 2020 and we must then act accordingly.”
PARAMEDICS ALLEGEDLY THREATENED
Police are also investigating an incident in western Sydney where a pair of female ambulance officers were allegedly threatened by a man.
The women were forced to abandon their ambulance vehicle at Greystanes about 4am Saturday after the man allegedly threatened to kill them.
They were frantically knocking on doors on Beechwood Ave and were eventually able to find shelter and call for police and ambulance backup
Following inquiries, police attended a hospital on Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, and arrested a 20-year-old man about 10am today.
He was taken to Granville Police Station, where he was later charged with two counts of intimidate, obstruct etc person in exercise of functions.
He was granted bail to appear before Fairfield Local Court on June 24.