More police, but still no arrests in wake of Taylors Hill youth ‘brawl’

No charges have been laid after a “brawl” which saw locals warned to lock their doors. Police say they can’t find anyone who “directly witnessed” it.

Screen grabs of the incident on August 8. Almost three weeks after police, some in riot gear, were sent to intervene and were pelted with rocks and a police car was damaged, no arrests have been made. Picture: & News

Victoria Police are headed back to a park where more than 50 youths of African appearance brawled, allegedly over a girl, to make neighbours feel safe. But they have still made no arrests.

Officers will set up a mobile unit outside Lonzo Park in Taylors Hill late this afternoon to get community views about safety but they have also said they cannot verify that any brawling occurred on current statements.

“It is clear that people were fearful of the youths’ activities on the night, which is why we have committed significant time and resources into our investigation,” North West Metro Commander Tim Hansen said.

“Police have also widely canvassed the Taylors Hill area, speaking to residents to review initial complaints of brawls and damage to bus shelters in the area.

“We have not identified any people who directly witnessed these incidents or in a position to provide a statement that we can verify.”

Taylors Hill residents were terrified on August 9 when police descended on two groups of warring groups in the park. Commander Hansen said police had spoken to two people of interest but no arrests have been made.

Police in riot gear gather near Lonzo Park in Taylors Hill on August 8. Picture: Jason Edwards

“As part of our inquiries, we have spoken to two persons of interest and also identified a number of causal factors that contributed to what occurred in Taylors Hill and these have been incorporated into what has become a complex, ongoing investigation,” he said.

Commander Hansen told reporters on August 9 that police did not arrest anyone on the night because their focus was on dispersing the crowds.

Our short-term objective was to monitor the behaviour of the group if there is an escalation of violence and that the residents are kept as safe as possible,” Mr Hansen said at the time.

“Our medium-term objectives start to morph into an investi­gation and arrest phase.”

A police car was smashed during the riots but police have said there were no other incidents of violence at the park that night. They have still not identified who damaged the car.

Police that night had told neighbours to lock their doors.

They are also investigating an altercation between two females later that night and police have spoken to the victim and local school representatives.