30 January 2009

Police Wrap - 30 January

| johnboy
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[First filed: January 30, 2009 @ 09:14]

1. Guns ‘n drugs like peaches and cream:

    ACT Policing has arrested a 30-year-old man on firearms and drugs charges after searching a Ngunnawal residence today (January 28).

    The search warrant was executed as a result of an investigation into an incident on Monday January 19, when an 18-year-old Nicholls man walking along Wanganeen Avenue, Ngunnawal around 5pm became involved in an altercation with two men.

    A short time later, the victim, accompanied by a friend, went to a Samuels Crescent address where they suspected their alleged assailants resided.

    A confrontation ensued, in which the visitors were allegedly threatened with a firearm and told to leave.

    The 18-year-old Nicholls man was allegedly shot in the leg whilst leaving. He later attended The Calvary Hospital for treatment and reported the incident to police.

    About 9.45am today, police attended a residence in Samuels Crescent, Ngunnawal to execute a Crimes Act 1900 search warrant.

    Inside the premises police located and seized a shotgun, a .22 calibre rifle, ammunition and substances suspected to be steroids and cannabis.

    The Ngunnawal man has been charged with a series of firearms, ammunition and drug offences and will face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date.

2. Witnesses sought after Lyons collision:

    ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a collision in which a white Mazda sedan collided with a tree on Melrose Drive in Lyons around 9.30am today (January 28).

    Damage to the rear of the vehicle has led police believe that a second vehicle may have been involved in or contributed to the collision.

    Police received a report that a second vehicle was seen in the area at the time of the incident, but that this vehicle and its occupants left the scene before police arrived.

    The 74-year-old female driver of the sedan sustained minor injuries in the collision and was conveyed to Calvary Hospital by ACT Ambulance for treatment.

3. A statement on the latest Tuggeranong terror:

    ACT Policing is investigating an assault at a bus-stop on Goldstein Crescent in Richardson last night (Tuesday, January 27) which is believed to be linked to previous random assaults and aggravated robberies.

    The incident occurred around 10.40pm yesterday. The male victim was at the bus-stop when a silver-coloured vehicle, possibly a Subaru or Mitsubishi with rear spoiler and a “P “plate, stopped at the kerb nearby and three males got out.

    The three males then punched the 14-year-old victim. A female companion of the victim attempted to intervene but was pushed away by the offenders.

    The male and female victims, neither of whom required medical treatment, were both taken to Tuggeranong Police Station to assist police with the investigation.

    Police believe this incident may be linked to a series of others which have occurred over the past six to eight weeks in the Woden and Tuggeranong areas, and which in mid-January prompted ACT Policing to form a dedicated taskforce.

    Superintendent Matt Varley said that Operation Caprae’s investigations have produced a number of leads and enquiries, and the team is paying close attention to the activities of a number of youths of interest within the Tuggeranong Valley. Last night’s assault is believed to be the first involving these youths for the past 11 days.

    “While police have a well-resourced team performing this investigation, this incident again demonstrates that some of these young offenders think they can continue to flout the law and community standards,” Supt Varley said.

    “The Operation Caprae taskforce will continue to target these young thugs and bring them before the courts.”

4. Suspicious blaze in Melba:

    ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a suspicious house fire in Melba which occurred yesterday (January 28).

    Around 11.30pm police attended Buckman Place in response to a number of 000 calls to find the house well alight. The ACT Fire Brigade arrived shortly after to control and extinguish the fire but the house sustained major damage.

    Neighbouring residents were evacuated during the fire and nearby Chinner Crescent was closed for a period.

    No one was injured or at home during the fire.

    An initial assessment by police and fire investigators deemed the fire as suspicious. AFP Forensic Services attended the scene and will work with ACT Fire Investigators to determine the cause of the fire.

5. Spray cans as a weapon?

    ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an assault on a 17-year-old male youth which occurred in Belconnen yesterday (January 28).

    Around 5.30pm police were called to Chandler Street to reports that the male youth had been sprayed in the face with a substance smelling of petroleum. The victim, from Belconnen, stated that a red car with P-plates containing four men approached him asking for directions. Before he could reply a man in the rear passenger seat behind the driver pulled out a white can and sprayed it onto his face and neck. The victim was conveyed to the Calvary Hospital by ACT Ambulance Services for treatment.

    The offender who sprayed the victim was described as being of Aboriginal appearance, wearing a black singlet and a baseball cap.

    AFP Forensic Services is examining the victim’s shirt to identify the substance used in the spray can.

6. A big cross-city bust:

    ACT Policing has arrested three men and a woman following an aggravated burglary at a house in Duffy yesterday (January 29).

    Around 3.10pm a burglary and theft was committed at the Tullaroop Street address. A number of items were stolen including a laptop computer, cameras, electrical equipment and jewellery.

    With assistance from a member of the public police were able to identify the alleged offender’s vehicle. An off duty police officer, on their way home from work, then sighted and followed the vehicle to Turner where and a traffic stop was conducted by a patrol car. The occupants of the vehicle were arrested and conveyed to the Regional Watch House.

    Police then executed a Crimes Act 1900 search warrant of a Livingston Avenue address in Kambah. As a result of the search some of the property from the burglary of the Duffy residence was located. Police also found approximately 38 grams of methyl amphetamine (ecstasy), clear plastic bags, various motifs, scales and other paraphernalia consistent with suspected drug trafficking. A small amount of cash, several other laptop computers, electrical items, mobile telephones, restricted medical intravenous medicines and commercial video camera equipment was also located and seized.

    A stolen motorcycle was also located in the garage and suspected drugs were sighted in a vehicle parked on the road belonging to another man. These vehicles were also seized.

    A 29-year-old man from Evatt, a 55-year-old man from Isabella Plains and a 33-year-old woman from Phillip have been charged with theft and aggravated burglary. Another 49-year-old man from Kambah, arrested during the search warrant, has been charged with property and drug offences.

    The alleged offenders will appear before the ACT Magistrates Court this morning (January 30).

7. Thuggles collared:

    Three youths will face the ACT Childrens Court this morning charged with aggravated robbery following search warrants executed by members of ACT Policing’s Territory Investigations Group last night.

    The search warrants at premises in Fadden, Gordon and on a vehicle suspected to have been used in the offence were a result of investigations into an aggravated robbery in Bonython on Monday, January 12. The detectives involved in the search were members of the Operation Caprae taskforce, which was convened in early January.

    During the January 12 incident in Bonython, a male victim was seated alone at bus stop in Hurtle Avenue around 11.15pm when he was approached by three males, assaulted and had his Apple iPhone and bag stolen.

    During the warrants executed last night, police recovered the stolen iPhone.

    Facing court this morning will be a 15-year-old from Fadden, a 17-year-old from Gordon and a 17-year-old from Wanniassa. All are facing aggravated robbery charges.

    Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen or heard any suspicious activity in the Hurtle Avenue, Bonython area between 11pm and midnight on January 12 are urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

8. School speed zones are back:

    ACT Policing is reminding motorists to slow down and observe the posted speed restrictions in place around Canberra as children return to school next week.

    Acting Superintendent Peter Davis from ACT Policing’s Traffic Operations said the 40km/h school speed limit during school hours is designed to ensure that motorists slow down, stay observant and have sufficient time to stop safely when required, such as at places like school crossings. He said the responsibility to keep children safe belongs to the whole community.

    “Drivers need to slow down, take care and remain vigilant around school zones to ensure the safety of our children. Parents also need to ensure their children are aware of the road rules, stranger danger and the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet,” a/Supt Davis said.

    Supt Davis also reminded parents to use approved pick up and drop off areas around schools.

    “Bus stops are for buses only; parents must pick up and drop off their children in safe and approved areas only and should not obstruct buses or other traffic. Taking those extra seconds to use an approved drop-off and pick-up zone means your children will arrive and leave school safely,” he said.

    ACT Policing Traffic Operations will monitor speeds around school zones during the specified hours of operation – 8am until 4pm Monday to Friday. Police will target those motorists who choose to ignore the law.

9. New Years rape arrests:

    ACT Policing has charged two 17-year-old male youths after a sexual assault at a party in Greenway which occurred on New Years Day (January 1).

    Shortly after midnight (January 1) the female victim was allegedly taken from the party to a parking area near Lake Tuggeranong where she was sexually assaulted.

    Detectives from ACT Policing’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team (SACAT) executed two simultaneous search warrants on premises in Fadden and Oxley earlier today (January 30). A search warrant was also executed on a vehicle located at one of the premises, which is suspected of being used in the offence. Police have seized the vehicle which will be examined by AFP Forensic Services.

    The males have both been charged with abduction and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent. They will appear before the ACT Children’s Court this afternoon.

If you can help police contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers website on www.act.crimestoppers.com.au.

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(Deckard @ #12) LOL…

…was probably on “bypass” again!

Instant Mash said :

I was just thinking that to myself…

Maybe the driver selected the wrong hospital on his GPS.

Instant Mash10:37 pm 30 Jan 09

I was just thinking that to myself…

Ummm… why was a woman who crashed in Lyons (possibly a whole 2 minutes from TCH) “conveyed to Calvary Hospital”?

AussieGal83 said :

Bloody old people shouldnt be allowed to drive. 74 year old! No wonder she ran into a f*ing tree.

74 isn’t that old these days AussieGal. That 49 years is going to go pretty quickly and I’m sure you’ll still most probably be sane enough to drive a car.

Meanwhile http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/29/2477461.htm has the latest on the rather weird murder attempt on the kid in Greenway last year.

“Police also found approximately 38 grams of methyl amphetamine (ecstasy)”

Nice work ACT police… They should know that these are two quite different substances. They would have been correct had they said “meth” or “ice” for the crystalised version, but MDMA it is not..

Bloody old people shouldnt be allowed to drive. 74 year old! No wonder she ran into a f*ing tree.

Yeah okay, your pot-stirring pulled me in 😉

This investigation is a lot more involved than what you understand. The media only gives very basic details in their reports. There is a lot the public don’t know.

Arrests have been made, and I’m sure more will follow.

tylersmayhem11:37 am 30 Jan 09

I’d hate to disappoint you Tooks. And what’s with this off handed comment about “someone who usually seems reasonably intelligent”?!

I’m shocked that I’ve ever come across intelligent in any way! 😛

But seriously, if this problem is still on-going after so long, I’d expect a little more result by now.

As for the CCTV comment – I was just stirring the pot as I usually do. It would seem you fell in 😉

Maybe you should go down and tell them how to catch these guys. They’ve already made several arrests (offenders back on the streets already though). Also explain how they can lock people up without evidence.

We should follow your suggestion and put CCTV cameras on every street in south Tuggeranong. Or have plain clothes police in every suburb, with unmarked cars following every P plater.

Mate, for someone who usually seems reasonably intelligent, you really talk crap sometimes.

tylersmayhem11:07 am 30 Jan 09

WTF are these random f**kers who go around bashing people, still on the loose?

Do I need to start up my CCTV rant again? I know Canberra is a pretty big place, but FFS – how incompetent do our police have to be?!

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