Staff defend Smith St restaurant from violent intruder with broomstick

A woman’s screaming can be heard echoing through the Darwin CBD before she strips naked and is held at bay by a worker with a broom stick. Now charges have been laid.

A video has captured the moment a Darwin CBD worker was forced to defend a popular restaurant with a broomstick from a woman.

Police were called to reports of a disturbance between a 30-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman about 6.30pm on Thursday.

When the pair entered a business near the Harriet Pl and Smith St intersection, police allege the man threatened staff with a weapon and the woman assaulted an employee with a blunt weapon before staff forced the couple out of the premises.

The video, which has gone viral after being posted on social media, showed the 22-year-old woman outside the restaurant, screaming and trying to force her way back inside.

The man is believed to have remained inside.

He cannot be seen in the footage.

The footage, recorded from a building across the street, shows a worker approaching the woman who appears to defend the restaurant with a broomstick.

The 22-year-old woman can be heard wailing and screaming for at least a minute before stripping herself naked except for her bra, before she continues to yell.

At that point, the worker with the broomstick runs back into the store and locks the door as the now-naked woman tries to pull open the doors.

Two people have been charged following an incident outside a popular CBD business. Picture: Screenshot from Mango Inquirer video

When the woman fails to get inside, she turns her attention to passing cars, confronting two drivers and trying to pull open the door to one before police arrive on the scene.

NT Police on Friday said a 30-year-old man and 22-year-old woman had been arrested and charged.

The woman was charged with aggravated assault, assault of a worker, armed with an offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour in a public place and engage in violent conduct.

She was bailed to appear in the Darwin Local Court on September 8.

The man was charged with choking, strangling or suffocating, armed with an offensive weapon, disorderly behaviour in a public place, and engage in violent conduct.

He was remanded to appear in the Darwin Local Court on Friday.

Senior Sergeant Robin Kidney said the behaviour of the pair was “completely unacceptable”.

“Anyone experiencing domestic or family violence is urged to reach out o 131 444 or in an emergency to call triple-0,” he said.