Media Release

Morning Round-up

Robbery with violence, Bundamba: Police are investigating a robbery and assault at the Bundamba Bottle Shop last night.  Around 7pm two males entered the store and went to the cold room where they took a carton of bourbon cans and a four-pack of bourbon bottles.  They went the counter and ordered two bottles of bourbon.  The store attendant asked for ID and one of the males replied that they didn’t have any.  Both men left the store without paying.  Another attendant has followed the men and confronted them about not paying.  One of the men then elbowed him in the face and neck before running off.  The 20-year-old attendant suffered a cut to his chin and a scratch along his neck.  Both men are described as of Pacific Islander appearance.  One man is believed to be around 16 to 17-years-old and was wearing a beanie. The second man is described as around 18 to 19-years-old and was also wearing a beanie and sunglasses.

Serious crash, Gladstone: A 20-year-old Gladstone man was taken to the Gladstone Base Hospital after a crash left him with serious injuries.  Around 11.10pm a man was driving south on Glenlyon Road at Gladstone when he spotted a man standing in the middle of the road.  This section of road is zoned 80 KPH and is unlit.  It appears the driver attempted to swerve around the man but was unable to avoid a collision and struck the man. The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating.

Disturbance and wilful damage, Pretty Beach (Port Douglas): Police investigations will continue into the wilful damage of a police car and disturbance at Pretty Beach overnight.  Police drove to the gravel carpark off Captain Cook Highway at Pretty Beach in response to a noise complaint around 10.20 last night.  Police parked the car in the carpark and walked into the bush to discover a marquee set up with DJ equipment and approximately 300 people aged between 16 and mid 20s.  Police noticed numerous people were heavily intoxicated.  Due to the noise levels and the area being a public area where alcohol cannot be consumed police gave a direction to a 43-year-old man to shut down the party and leave the area.  When police returned to their car they found both rear tyres had been stabbed and were deflated. Police also found spittle covering the car.  Other police units were called in ensure the crowd was dispersed safely.  One person was issued with a notice to appear for a public nuisance offence.

Serious crash, Imbil: The Forensic Crash Unit will investigate a serious single vehicle crash at Imbil last night.  Around 11pm a car was travelling west on Yabba Creek Road when it appears it has failed to take a right hand corner, left the road, hit an embankment and rolled into a paddock.  Both the driver and passenger were thrown from the car with the car coming to rest on top of the man.  The 22-year-old female was transported to Nambour hospital and is believed to be suffering from multiple breaks.  The 21-year-old man was freed from under the car at 12.30am and was taken to the Imbil show grounds where he was airlifted to the Nambour Hospital.  His injuries are described as serious.

Anyone with information which could assist police with their investigations should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Assault police arrest, Coolangatta: A 30-year-old Cleveland woman will appear in the Southport Magistrates Court on May 5 charged with two counts of serious assault police, possession of a firearm, carry a firearm in a public place, common assault and trespass.  Around 12.50pm yesterday police were alerted by a contract cleaner that a female was allegedly squatting in house in Golden Four Drive at Bilinga. The 33-year-old cleaner was allegedly threatened with violence by the woman before he was able to flee the house with his son.  As he drove past the house he spotted the woman allegedly pointing what appeared to be a machine gun at him.  Police attended the address and located the woman along with a replica firearm.  The woman was abusive and aggressive towards police and the officers were forced to restrain her in order to transport her to the Coolangatta Police Station.  Once at the station the woman is alleged to have attempted to throw a chair through a window.  Officers struggled with the woman and the male officer received a bite to his wrist which broke the skin.  The female officer sustained soft tissue injury to her stomach.  Both officers received treatment at the John Flynn Hospital.  The woman was uninjured. Later in the evening the woman allegedly assaulted another female officer in the watchhouse by grabbing by the hair and pulling several large chunks of hair out and scratching the back of her neck.  The officer was treated by the attending medical Officer.

Rape arrest, Yarrabah: A 39-year-old Yarrabah man will appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court tomorrow charged with rape and assault with intent to rape.  A 29-year-old woman was allegedly taken to the beachfront at Buddabadoo Creek around 6am yesterday by the man where she was punched several times in the face and sexually assaulted.

Pursuit arrest, Lowood: A 30-year-old Lowood man will appear in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on May 30 charged with failing to stop, UIL, unlicensed driving, fail to supply roadside breath test and obstruct police.  The charges follow a brief pursuit at Lowood last night.  Around 11.50pm police spotted a man get into a car outside of a hotel carrying a quantity of alcohol.  They followed the car and saw the driver allegedly weaving across the road.  Police activated their lights and siren to intercept the car but the driver allegedly accelerated away. The pursuit was terminated a short time later.  Police noticed the car had gone into a dead end street and located the car in the driveway of one of the houses.  The man allegedly refused to undergo a roadside breath test and was taken to the Ipswich Police Station where he provided a breath test and returned a reading of .191.