- About 9am today (Sunday 4 April 2020), lifeguards at Bondi Beach approached police for assistance with a man who had ignored the council's 'beach closed' signs. Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command spoke with a 21-year-old man and cautioned him for failing to comply with terms of notice erected by council. After the man allegedly refused to follow move-on directions, he was arrested, during which, he allegedly coughed at an officer, claiming to have COVID-19. He was taken to Waverley Police Station and charged with fail to comply with terms of notice erected by council, fail or refuse to comply with requirement of police officer, resist officer in execution of duty and intimidate police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court tomorrow (Monday 6 April 2020). It has since been confirmed that the man does not have COVID-19.
- A 59-year-old man has been charged with trespassing and breaching the Public Health Act after officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were called to a Dee Why hotel about 8.30pm yesterday (Saturday 4 April 2020). The same man has already been issued with two PINs (Thursday 2 and Friday 3 April 2020) for similar breaches. He's due to appear in Manly Local Court on Wednesday 3 June 2020.
- A man has been charged over allegedly breaching an Apprehensive Violence Order and not complying with the Public Health Act. Officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were called to a home in East Maitland about 9.30am yesterday (Saturday 4 April 2020), responding to reports a woman was being assaulted. They arrested a 26-year-old man at the scene and took him to Maitland Police Station, where he was charged with contravene prohibition/restriction in AVO, possess prohibited drug, and not comply with direction under section 7. He's been refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Sunday 5 April 2020).
- A 37-year-old man claiming to have COVID-19 virus will appear in Nowra court today after allegedly assaulting and spitting at officers. Officers from South Coast Police District were attempting to arrest the man about 8.30am yesterday (Saturday 4 April 2020), when he allegedly punched an officer in the face. It's alleged the man spat in the face of the injured senior constable, while claiming to have the COVID-19 virus. He's been charged with assault police causing actual bodily harm, assault police, and intimidate police.
PINS:
A total of 18 new Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) have been issued in relation to alleged breaches of the Public Health Act:
- About 2.30pm on Friday 3 April 2020, officers from Murrumbidgee Police District were called to Benerembah Lane, Griffith, following reports of an intoxicated person. A 55-year-old man was spoken to and moved on from the area. At 4pm the same day, officers returned after the man was seen again in that location and could not provide a legitimate reason for being there. Police were also made aware that he had been warned to obey social distancing regulations on Tuesday 31 March 2020. The man was issued a penalty infringement notice (PIN).
- About 5pm Friday 3 April 2020, police attached to New England Police District attended a licensed premise in Tenterfield Street, Deepwater. They spoke to a 27-year-old man, who was sitting with a group of patrons drinking. He was issued with a PIN as he had been spoken to by police the previous day about social-distancing and issued with a warning.
- A 37-year-old Newtown man has been issued with a PIN after officers from Inner West PAC spoke with him twice on Friday night about breaching the Public Health Act. Police spoke with the man on Federation Road about 8.30pm on Friday 3 April 2020, where he was warned about associating with four other adults. About two hours later, the same man was stopped on King Street, Newtown, and was then issued with a PIN.
- About 8.30pm Friday 3 April 2020, officers from Bankstown Police Area Command noticed a car double parked in Restwell Street, Bankstown. Officers pulled over the car and spoke to the 20-year-old female driver and her 21-year-old female passenger. The pair were unable to provide a valid reason for driving around. The passenger provided incorrect identification information to the police and become argumentative. She was issued with a PIN. The driver was issued with an official move on direction.
- Just after 10.30pm on Friday 3 April 2020, officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command were patrolling San Cristobal Drive, Green Valley, when they saw three men – one aged 36 and two 18-year-olds – not obeying social distancing regulations. The men were spoken to and could not provide a legitimate reason for being there. Two of the men had allegedly exited a vehicle believed to have been stolen. All three were issued PINs. Investigations regarding the vehicle are continuing.
- At 1.15am Saturday 4 April 2020, officers from Bankstown Police Area Command pulled over a car after it had allegedly accelerated away after seeing police on Edgar Street, Bankstown. The 30-year-old driver was spoken to by police about his reason for driving. He was unable to provide a valid reason and changed his version several times and continued to be argumentative with police. He was issued with a PIN.
- A passenger in a car being driven by a food delivery driver has been issued with a PIN by officers from Quakers Hill Police Area Command. Police stopped the vehicle about midday yesterday (Saturday 4 April 2020) and spoke with two people in the car. The driver was employed delivering food; however, police allege the 33-year-old woman from Toongabbie, who was the front-seat passenger, was only there because she said she was bored being at home.
- A 38-year-old woman has been issued with a PIN after she was found drinking with six people in Jonson Street, Byron Bay, just before 6pm yesterday, in breach of the Public Health Act. Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District had issued a warning to the woman earlier in the day.
- Police investigating an alleged assault at a home in Goulburn last night have issued two men with PINs for breaching the Public Health Act. Officers from The Hume Police District were called to the home in Teece Place about 9.20pm (Saturday 4 April 2020), after a 34-year-old man sustained a cut above his eye. He was treated at Goulburn Hospital and released. Police later issued him and his 24-year-old friend with a PIN; inquiries are continuing into the alleged assault.
- A man has been issued with a PIN after being stopped at the Sydney Opera House about 10.15pm yesterday. Officers from Sydney City PAC had already issued the man last Wednesday (1 April 2020), with a warning about breaching the Public Health Act.
- Two people were given PINs and three people received cautions after gathering for a barbeque in the state's north. Yesterday (Saturday 4 April 2020), about 11pm, officers attached to New England Police District responded to a noise complaint at a caravan park on Rouse Street, Tenterfield. Five people were in the bungalow; breaching ministerial orders related to the congregation of more than two people. A 23-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl were identified as people who had previously received cautions for not complying with ministerial directions and were fined $1000. The three others were issued with cautions.
- Just after midnight (Sunday 5 April 2020), officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command attended the Lilli Pilli Baths, in Lilli Pilli, following reports of a gathering of people not adhering to social distancing regulations. Police attended and spoke with four men – aged 22, 24, 19 and 19 – who were drinking and having a barbeque. Officers reminded them of their requirements under the Public Health Act and asked them to move on; however, the men became argumentative and refused to leave. All three men were issued infringement notices.
