Anthony Bonacci of Mill Park allegedly causes $80k of damage
A magistrate called it a “spectacularly bad” night. And the young man at the centre of the alleged offending in the northern suburbs has never been in trouble before with the law.
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A young man’s drug binge allegedly led him on a wild night of destruction, causing $80,000 in damage, assaulting police, his friend and breaking into a Mill Park shopping centre.
Anthony Bonacci, who has never before been in trouble with the law, fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court over the “spectacularly bad” night on Wednesday, July 8.
The court heard the 23-year-old allegedly smashed up five cars, a fence, boom gate, intercom system, apartment building foyer and front door before committing the assaults on July 7.
Constable Nicole Kernic told the court Bonacci’s spree began when he drove friends to the local shops about 2.10am after allegedly taking methamphetamine, cocaine and xanax.
When they returned to the Mill Park apartment complex where he lived, Bonacci allegedly hit four parked cars, damaging all, and causing extensive damage to a BMW, Honda, and his Holden Commodore.
Bonacci also allegedly completely destroyed the complex’s fence, boom gate, and intercom system, taking out the boom gate before his car became stuck in the fence.
Constable Kernic said Bonacci allegedly appeared highly drug-affected when police arrived and returned a positive drug test before he was taken to the Austin Hospital for a cut on his forehead.
When Bonacci returned to the apartment building with his friends, he allegedly broke a hand sanitiser unit in the foyer, before using a fire extinguisher to try to bash open an apartment door.
The court heard he deployed two fire extinguishers, covering the walls and floor in white powder, then allegedly hit his friend in the back of the head with a fire extinguisher.
Police then found him trapped in the automatic doors at the entry to Plenty Valley shopping centre about 6.20am after he allegedly forced his way into the building.
Constable Kernic said police searched Bonacci before he kicked an officer in the shin and was taken back to the Austin Hospital by ambulance.
The court heard Bonacci was believed to be a heavy user of methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and prescription drugs, using about one gram of methamphetamine and two grams of cocaine every weekend.
Prosecution argued Bonacci was a risk to the community, having allegedly said drug use meant he had no recollection of the events of July 7.
A security guard has allegedly had to be employed at the apartment complex since the incidents.
Bonacci’s lawyer said his client had recently lost his construction job because of the economic downturn.
He proposed Bonacci be bailed to live with his family in Fawkner, and to be assessed for supervision by the Court Integrated Services Program at the earliest opportunity.
Magistrate Helen Murphy said Bonacci was “a very unusual proposition” for the court, charged with “really serious offences” with a number of alleged victims despite having no criminal history.
“Things have gone spectacularly badly for you,” she said.
She bailed him to live with his parents under a nightly curfew.
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