Man assaulted by group out looking for stolen car in Townsville

A group of men have assaulted a man while the group were out looking for a family member’s stolen car. Read more.

No charges have been laid after an incident in the Townsville suburb of Heatley in the early hours of June 24.

A 38-year-old man has been assaulted by a group of men in their 20s who were out searching for a family member’s stolen car in Townsville.

The assault happened about 1am on Saturday on Fulham Rd, near Hutchins St in Heatley.

The 38-year-old was in hospital and yet to speak with police as of Sunday evening; Police were waiting for his medical treatment to be completed and nobody had been charged.

A hospital spokeswoman said on Monday morning that the patient was in a stable condition.

A police spokeswoman said police recommended members of the public not engage in methods of disrupting criminal activity which might involve risk of personal harm or further legal recourse.

“People who do attempt to take matters into their own hands can very well have any weapon turned on themselves and could face harm or in some cases could themselves face legal recourse dependent on their actions,” the spokeswoman said.

Police were called about 1am on Saturday to a report of a group of people and several vehicles being involved in an altercation.

“Upon arrival police located a group of five men, aged in their 20s, who had been searching for a family member’s recently stolen motor vehicle,” the police spokeswoman said.

“Preliminary inquiries indicated a 38-year-old man had been allegedly assaulted by this group after attempting to flee from a grey MG sedan allegedly involved in a collision with their vehicle.”

The 38-year-old tried to flee the scene but was arrested nearby. He was taken to Townsville University Hospital in relation to the injuries he sustained prior to police arrival, the spokeswoman said.

The Grey MG sedan was not reported stolen but police seized the car in relation to other unrelated matters, the spokeswoman said.

Townsville detectives are investigating.

The spokeswoman reminded the public to report any suspicious or criminal activity to police.

“Information received from members of the public is continually instrumental in identifying and disrupting criminal offences,” the spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Man assaulted by group out looking for stolen car in Townsville