Man allegedly illegally entered from locked out state, prompting police station to close in Covid-19 scare

A NSW man will remain in custody after he allegedly illegally entered SA from the locked out state, sparking a Covid-19 scare at a police station.

A South Australian police station was forced to shut down after being visited by a man who allegedly illegally travelled from a Covid-19 hotspot and failed to complete the required border form.

The 21-year-old man was arrested after he attended the station along Hindley St, in Adelaide’s CBD, about 1.20pm on Thursday and told police he had been in New South Wales within the past 14 days.

SA has hard border restrictions in place with NSW, blocking anyone from entering except for essential travellers and some people granted exemptions.

According to SA Police, the young man failed to pay a taxi fare so he and the taxi driver — who were both wearing masks — spoke to police.

It was during those conversations that police discovered the young man allegedly failed to complete the required cross border travel application form when he drove into the state from NSW via Victoria on August 11.

Hindley Street Police Station was shut for cleaning. Picture: Dean Martin

His car was found at Mount Barker, in the Adelaide Hills, and has been seized by police.

As a precaution, police closed the station on Thursday afternoon to have it deep cleaned and escorted the NSW resident to a medi-hotel.

Both the young man and the taxi driver received negative Covid-19 tests.

“There was no risk to members of the public or staff inside the premises,” SA Police said in a statement.

Further checks are underway to determine where the NSW resident travelled in SA and other states.

He was arrested and charged on Friday with two counts of breaching the Emergency Management Act.

The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.

The police station has now reopened.