Ringwood skatepark incidents prompt police to step up patrols

POLICE are cracking down on anti-social behaviour at Ringwood skatepark after two shocking incidents involving an alleged assault and an alleged death threat towards a police officer.

Police are ramping up security after an officer was cornered by up to 10 youths near the skatepark on March 21.

POLICE are cracking down on anti-social behaviour at Ringwood skatepark after two shocking incidents involving an alleged assault and an alleged death threat towards a police officer.

Compounding matters, the skatepark’s security camera, which live streams to Ringwood police station, is damaged and out of action.

Officers will now patrol the park up to three times a day following the alleged incidents.

A Ringwood police officer was cornered by up to 10 youths near the skatepark on March 21 while he chased an alleged teenage shoplifter from the nearby Aldi.

Sergeant Michael Stuebner said some of the youths allegedly made threats to kill the officer before other police units arrived to break up the group.

Five days earlier, a 19-year-old Ringwood East man was assaulted by up to five youths and taken to Maroondah Hospital with facial injuries.

Maroondah detective Senior Constable Alicia Thorp said the man and a friend visited the skatepark around 11.30pm on March 17 after previously partying at nearby Orange Whip nightclub.

The two men were chased around the skatepark by the group of youths before the 19-year old was attacked, suffering bruising to his face.

Sgt Stuebner said the March 21 incident was the “explosive result” of increasing tensions at the skatepark in the past month.

Two youths aged 15 to 18 were later arrested at the skatepark over the March 21 incident.

Sgt Stuebner said one of the youths was released pending further inquiries, while the other was bailed to face a Children’s Court at a later date.

He confirmed the skatepark’s security camera was not working and was chasing up the issue with Maroondah Council for urgent repairs.