More than 250 road offences recorded in Moreland during crackdown

Drivers using mobile phones again led the way during a police crackdown in Moreland this week, as the cops nabbed motorists for more than 250 offences in one day. Two other chases through Coburg this week showed the need for the crackdown.

A police crackdown on drivers using phones nabbed 66 people on Tuesday. Picture: Tait Schmaal

Police in Moreland “hunted in packs” on Tuesday, recording more than 250 offences on the roads.

Fawkner Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant Jason Lane said police hunted those flaunting the law together on the road, with mobile phone users again targeted.

That wasn’t the only action on the road with two car chases through Coburg making up part of the crime across the municipality.

MORELAND

Distracted drivers were caught in the act on Tuesday during a national day of action from police. Every available police officer was on the road during the day to remind motorists to obey the laws, with 66 people found using their phones while behind the wheel in Moreland. Drivers busted using their phone received a $495 fine and lost four demerit points. Another 64 drivers were caught speeding, 14 were driving without a licence, 56 disobeyed traffic control and 26 unregistered vehicles were found on the roads.

Divers using their phones continues to plague police. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

Over the course of the day, four drivers returned a positive test for drugs and one was caught drink driving. A total of 254 offences were recorded. The crackdown will continue when Operation Argus runs from Thursday to Sunday.

GLENROY

A high-speed chase through Glenroy, Coburg and Meadow Heights has resulted in four people being charged by police.

Rocky the police dog was hard at work again this week. Picture: Victoria Police

The pursuit began about 4am on August 24 when police attempted to pull over a blue Holden Commodore in Pascoe Vale Rd, Glenroy. The driver instead attempted to evade police and led them on a chase until the car stopped in Catterick Court, Greenvale. The four people left the vehicle and attempted to run away from police but, thanks to the assistance of dog squad member Rocky, they were all apprehended. An 18-year-old man from Meadow Heights was charged with five offences including car theft, dangerous driving while being pursued by police and committing offences while on bail. A Glenroy woman and a Meadow Heights man and woman, all 20, were charged with car theft.

BRUNSWICK WEST

A suspicious fire has damaged a fish and chip shop in Brunswick West. Firefighters were called out to the Grantham St shop about 12.40am on Thursday after reports of a small fire. The front of the shop was damaged in the blaze, which is being investigated by the Moreland crime investigation unit.

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COBURG

An attempted getaway from police ended in a car crash in Coburg. Police first spotted the car on Sydney Rd, near Bell St, about 2am on Tuesday, when a man got inside and drove away. The driver lost police through backstreets in Coburg until the man crashed his vehicle into another car and a traffic light at the intersection of Edward St and Sydney Rd. The driver of the other car, a 32-year-old Tarneit man, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. A 38-year-old Coburg North man attempted to run away from the scene and was arrested. A passenger in the getaway vehicle, a 25-year-old woman, was also arrested. When police searched the car, they found stolen ID and bank cards.

GLENROY

The Western Ring Road was brought to a standstill in peak hour on August 26 after a multi-car crash under the Pascoe Vale Rd overpass.

Right lane closed on the M80 Ring Road Greensborough-bound under Pascoe Vale Road, due to a multi-car collision. Three lanes remain open with speed set at 40km/h. Our Incident Response crews are on the way. Obey the overhead signals for everyone's safety. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/swPL3POPC0

— VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) August 26, 2019

The two right lanes of the freeway Greensborough-bound were closed following the crash about 4.30pm. All lanes eventually reopened about 6.30pm. Multiple people were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

COBURG

A man who assaulted two paramedics has avoided jail despite the crime coming with a mandatory five-year term.

James Haberfield leaves court. Picture: Julian Smith

James Haberfield, 22, was hospitalised after taking a cocktail of drugs including ketamine and MDMA at Rainbow Serpent music festival on January 25. He escaped from hospital four days later and broke into a Coburg home before an ambulance was called. While being treated in the ambulance, Haberfield pushed a female paramedic to the ground, put her in a headlock and then began punching her in the face.

A male paramedic came to his partner’s aid and was also hit with a flurry of punches.

Haberfield pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker on duty and recklessly causing injury in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

Magistrate Simon Zebrowski chose not to jail him, citing a history of mental health issues and a diagnosed autism spectrum disorder could result in him being a suicide risk in prison. Haberfield was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order and will undergo mental health and drug treatment.