Police have made several arrests as part of a large scale three night operation targeting dangerous driving and other criminal activity in Shepparton and Wodonga last week.
Operation Damocles, which ran each evening between Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 August, saw police from the Eastern Region Crime Squad teaming up with members from Victoria Police Air Wing, the K9 Unit, Highway Patrol and local detectives.
The roving patrols from the ground and the sky across Shepparton and Wodonga resulted in six arrests and 14 offenders being charged with a range of offences, including trafficking and possessing a commercial quantity of drugs, evading police, dangerous driving, unlicensed driving, driving while disqualified, possessing methylamphetamine, refusing a roadside drug test, and returning a positive roadside drug test.
During the course of Operation Damocles, police also issued 12 infringement notices, impounded eight vehicles, and issued one defect notice.
Among those arrested were:
• On Monday 16 August at around 10.10pm, Wodonga Highway Patrol intercepted a 28-year-old Point Cook man driving a Mitsubishi Pajero on the Hume Highway in Barnawartha. The man allegedly told police he was on the way to Sydney; however, he did not have the appropriate permit. Upon inspection of the vehicle, police allegedly located approximately 50kg of cannabis. The man was charged with trafficking and possessing a commercial quantity of cannabis. He appeared at the Wodonga Magistrates Court the following morning and was remanded in custody until November 11.
• On Monday 16 August at around 11.20pm, police attempted to intercept a male riding an unregistered motorbike in McFarland Rd, Wodonga. The rider allegedly evaded police, riding through a number of residential streets, before heading into park land where he abandoned the bike and continued to flee on foot. Police on the ground were supported by Victoria Police Air Wing who tracked the male to the rear of a residential property. Police located and arrested a 25-year-old male from Wodonga hiding in the front yard of the house in Trudewind Street. The motorbike was impounded, and the male rider will be charged by summons with offences including unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered motor vehicle and careless driving.
• On Wednesday 18 August at around 9.40pm, Victoria Police Air Wing observed a motorbike travelling at excessive speed in Graham Street, Shepparton. Air Wing followed as the rider allegedly lifted the front wheel off the road while continuing to travel at high speed. The rider entered a residential property in Carson Street, Shepparton. Ground level police attended and arrested a 24 year-old male from Kialla in the back yard of the property. The male was a disqualified driver on bail for serious driving offences. The motorbike was impounded, and the male charged with offences including dangerous driving, drive while disqualified and drive unregistered vehicle. The male was refused bail and remanded to appear at Shepparton Magistrates Court on 19 August 2021.
• On the evening of Wednesday 18 August, police observed a motorbike travelling at approximately 150 km/h. The vehicle was followed to an address in Glory Way, Shepparton by Air Wing. Ground units attended and impounded the motorbike. A 17 year old male from Shepparton was interviewed at the scene. He will be charged by summons for offences including unlicensed driving, driving an unregistered motorbike and speed related offences.
Victoria Police will continue to run future operations of a similar nature across different parts of the state over the coming months, targeting dangerous drivers to take them off our roads.
Quotes attributable to Eastern Region Crime Squad Inspector Shane Cashman
"These arrests were the result of strong collaboration between multiple police units who were responsible for bringing dangerous drivers and people using our roads for other forms of criminality before the courts to keep our community safe."
"We are constantly reminding the community of their responsibilities when it comes to road safety, as road trauma has a devastating impact on those it touches."
"If you are doing the wrong thing, we will hold you accountable, with operations such as these vital to detecting and deterring this offending."
