Croydon: Six youths arrested after alleged attack on homeless man outside Main St bottle shop

A group of youths allegedly attacked a homeless man in broad daylight and left him for dead outside a Croydon bottle shop.

Six youths were arrested after an alleged attack on a man outside a bottle shop in Croydon on March 29. Picture: Supplied.

Six youths have been arrested after they allegedly punched and assaulted a homeless man in broad daylight in the heart of Croydon.

And a witness claims he saw three of the youths allegedly head back to film the man lying in agony on the ground after their alleged attack.

Maroondah detective Sergeant Lee Nichols said the incident occurred outside a bottle shop on the corner of Main and Hewish streets on March 29 at 3.30pm.

Sgt Nichols said police believed the youths had previously been in the store, noticed the man, and then waited out the front for him to leave.

An argument took place before the six youths allegedly set upon the man and kicked, punched and stomped on him before walking away.

Sgt Nichols said officers then located the youths further down Hewish St a short time later, near the corner of Springfield Rd.

The victim, a 57-year-old man, was taken to hospital to be treated for facial injuries and broken ribs.

Cameron, who didn’t give his surname, said he noticed the incident when he was grabbing a coffee at a nearby cafe.
“It was chaotic, there was a lot of bleeding and people running around, wondering what to do,” he said.

Cameron said he noticed up to six police units, the dog squad and the air wing helicopter trying to track down the youths.

“They walked off like nothing was going on, they were laughing about it, and three of them ran back to get video footage as well,” he said.

“It’s a disgrace and it shouldn’t happen in Croydon.”

Sgt Nichols described the incident as a “sickening daylight attack” and the alleged actions of the youths “disgusting and cowardly”.

Police arrested a 19-year-old Croydon man, an 18-year-old Clyde man, and four youths aged between 14 and 17 years.

A 14-year-old and a 16-year-old were released pending further inquiries, while the Croydon man, the Clyde man and a 17-year-old and 15-year-old were each charged with affray, intentionally causing injury and other assault-related offences.

The Croydon man and the Clyde man were bailed to appear at the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court at a later date, while the 17-year-old and the 15-year-old were further remanded to face a Children’s Court on April 7 and April 21 respectively.

Sgt Nichols said police were continuing their investigations into the alleged attack and increasing patrols around Main St to reassure the public of their safety.