Store manager fined for trapping health officers inside shop during raid
The manager of a Cairns tobacco outlet has been given a hefty fine for trapping seven health and police officers inside a shop by cutting power to the electric door during an illicit tobacco raid.
A convenience store manager who blockaded seven public health and police officers inside a city store as they investigated illicit tobacco sales has been fined with the court told the health department put all similar investigations on hold after the incident to reconsider the risk and danger to employees.
William Wallace Lewis, 21, pleaded guilty to deprivation of liberty over the incident on June 24 this year in Grafton Street, with the defence suggesting it was a “prank”.
His original seven deprivation of liberty charges were rolled into a single charge at the start of the sentencing.
Magistrate Jakub Lodziak rejected the idea the manager’s actions were a “prank”.
“Perhaps your definition of prank and mine are different … these are people doing their jobs – carrying out their lawful duties and he is trying to hinder that.” Mr Lodziak said.
The court was told Lewis was on bail for trafficking cocaine in Cairns nightclubs at the time of the offences, and had since been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment on the drug charge, wholly suspended.
He has not been charged with any offences related to the June raid itself, the court was told.
Lewis’s move into convenience store management was part of his effort to change jobs and get away from the drug crowd he was mixing with in his late teens, the court was told.
Police prosecutor Acting Senior Sergeant Olivier Claes said investigating officers went to the store that day were to investigate possible illegal tobacco sales.
The store’s only entry and exit point was a roller door.
During the raid, Lewis jumped a fence and turned off the power, meaning the electric roller door could not be opened.
When an employee inside asked him to open the door via WhatsApp, he sent an “I don’t know” emoji, the court was told, then went quiet.
“Half an hour later, someone came with a blue key, power was returned and the roller door was opened,” Mr Lodziak said.
Magistrate Lodziak said the crime had a flow-on effect for the whole public health department, and a serious impact on the seven victims – two detective sergeants of police and five public health investigators.
He said the impact on one of the victims, who had been a victim of crime before, was particularly profound.
“One of the victims was concerned for her safety, particularly when she realised she could not exit the store … the incident reminded her of a situation in a previous workplace when she’d had a firearm held to her head during a robbery – she had been able to put it out of her mind for a number of years,” Mr Lodziak said.
“Sadly, what you did brought that incident back to her mind and reminded her of how scared she was that day.”
He said that same victim was also dealing with the flow-on effect of Lewis’s crimes.
“Your offending has led to other consequences; inspections and seizures of illicit vape products were paused while risk assessment procedures were reviewed and that procedure was updated,” he said.
“Procedures are now more stringent and time consuming, involving many more hours before and during and after.
“There has been an increased reluctance to undertake compliance work because of what happened, and this has added to her workload. … For me to label that victim as a brave person would be a significant understatement.
Mr Lodziak said Lewis’s behaviour was driven by an “intention to cause an inconvenience and obstruction”.
“I consider the offending to be serious … these officers deserve to undertake their lawful work without fear of this type of conduct befalling them,” Mr Lodziak said.
Mr Wallace was fined a total of $8,000.
More Coverage
Originally published as Store manager fined for trapping health officers inside shop during raid
