Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses and CCTV footage to an apartment fire in O’Connor on Wednesday (17 January 2024).

About 1.40am, ACT Fire & Rescue responded to reports of an apartment block on Berrigan Crescent on fire. Firefighters extinguished the fire, but the third level of the complex was significantly damaged. Repairs to the complex are estimated to cost millions of dollars.

No injuries were reported and the matter is now under investigation by ACT Policing Major Crime Squad.

Police are seeking any witnesses who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously, or anyone in the area who has CCTV or dashcam footage from around the time of the fire. Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via theCrime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote 7648897.

Source: ACT Police

Two youths will face the ACT Children’s Court today charged with various offences following an investigation by officers from ACT Policing’s Operation TORIC.

On Tuesday, 16 January 2024, police allege a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy entered a residence in Kambah, producing knives and threatening the homeowner.

Police will also allege the two boys stole an undisclosed amount of drugs, a sum of money, and other items belonging to the homeowner.

Later that same day, the 17-year-old boy allegedly made threats to another person over the phone in relation to the earlier home invasion.

About 1pm yesterday (Thursday, 18 January 2024) police arrested the two boys at a residence in Chisholm.

The 17-year-old boy has been charged with joint commission aggravated robbery, threats via a carriage service, possess offensive weapon with intent, and breach of good behaviour order. The 16-year-old boy has been charged with joint commission aggravated robbery, and possess offensive weapon with intent.

In a separate incident, yesterday (Thursday, 18 January 2024) officers attached to Operation TORIC executed a search warrant at a residence in Ainslie following an investigation into a stolen vehicle from August 2023.

During the search warrant, police located two stolen motor vehicles, two hand-held tasers, knuckle dusters, OC spray, and two gas powered firearm shaped arrow air javelins.

Investigations into this incident are ongoing and charges are expected to be laid at a later date.

Source: ACT Police

A 14-year-old boy will face the ACT Children’s Court today (Thursday, 18 January 2024) charged in relation to a fatal collision on the Barton Highway.

About 9.15pm Wednesday, 17 January 2024, police allege a gold Toyota Avalon sedan was stolen from a residence in Chisholm.

Later that evening, about 11.50pm, the Avalon was involved in a serious collision with a Toyota Hilux utility at the corner of the Barton Highway and Clarrie Hermes Drive.

A 19-year-old man, who was a passenger in the Avalon, was treated at the scene by ACT Ambulance Service paramedics, however he later died in hospital.

Police allege the 14-year-old boy was driving the Avalon at the time of the collision with the Hilux.

He was arrested and has been charged with culpable driving causing death and drive stolen motor vehicle.

Source: ACT Police

The ACT has recorded its first road fatality for 2024 following a two-vehicle collision overnight.

About 11.50pm Wednesday, 17 January 2024, ACT Policing and emergency services were called to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of the Barton Highway and Clarrie Hermes Drive.

Initial investigations indicate a stolen gold Toyota Avalon sedan with four occupants proceeded through a red light and collided with a Toyota Hilux at the intersection.

Emergency services treated the occupants of both vehicles, including two from the Hilux, at the scene.

Two passengers from the stolen vehicle were critically injured, with one requiring removal from the vehicle by emergency services.

The two passengers, a 14-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man, were transported to hospital in a critical condition.

Sadly, the 19-year-old man later died in hospital.

This is the first road fatality in the ACT this year.

ACT Road Policing’s Major Collision Team is conducting an investigation into the collision and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

The driver of the Avalon, another 14-year-old boy, is currently in police custody and is expected to be charged in relation to the collision.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dash cam footage relating to the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via theCrime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 7649756.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to multiple serious assaults that occurred at Summernats 2024.

On Saturday, 6 January 2024, a number of serious assaults allegedly occurred at the Summernats event inside EPIC.

As a result of these assaults, a number of people presented with serious injuries including swelling on the brain, severe concussion, and permanent scarring to the face.

While many of the incidents have been captured on social media and police have spoken to some of the witnesses present, police are encouraging anyone who may have information that is yet to speak to police to come forward to assist in the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed any of these incidents or who may have footage which could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 7639868.

Source: ACT Police

A 39-year-old Lyneham man will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Tuesday, 16 January, 2024) charged with the sexual act of stealthing.

Police allege the man engaged in sexual intercourse with a woman at a residence in Lyneham on Sunday, 14 January, during which he committed the offence of stealthing.

Stealthing occurs when a person secretly removes a condom without a sexual partner’s consent.

Yesterday (Monday, 15 January), members from ACT Policing’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team (SACAT) executed a search warrant at the man’s residence where he was subsequently arrested.

He has been charged with one count of sexual intercourse without consent, and two counts of act of indecency without consent.

The ACT criminalised stealthing as an offence in October 2021 by adding it to existing consent provisions under the territory’s Crimes Act.

ACT Policing would encourage anyone who has been a victim of stealthing to come forward and make a report to police. The new legislation makes it clear this is an offence, and police will investigate all complaints of this nature thoroughly.

Source: ACT Police

A 33-year-old Banks man will face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Saturday, 13 January 2024) charged with drug trafficking.

On Thursday, 11 January 2024, police applied for and were granted search warrants related to the man, his residence in Banks, and a vehicle – a grey Ford Ranger utility.

About 8.40am Friday, 12 January, police conducted a traffic stop of the Ford Ranger on Florey Drive, Latham. At this time, police executed the search warrant on the man and the vehicle, locating a sum of money and two mobile phones.

A short time later, police also executed a search warrant at the man’s residence in Banks. As a result of the search, police located and seized approximately 320g of methamphetamine, approximately 400g of MDMA, two more mobile phones, 250 e-cigarettes (vapes), a sum of cash, and fireworks.

The man was arrested, and has been charged with a number of offences including drug trafficking (two counts), drive while suspended, and possess declared substance without authority.

Police urge anyone with information regarding the manufacture or sale of illicit drugs in the community to report that activity to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing has charged a 28-year-old Theodore man with serious driving offences after allegedly evading police over two days.

On Wednesday, (10 January 2024), police observed a grey Holden Cruze associated with the man on Johnson Drive. Believing the driver was disqualified from driving at the time, police attempted to stop the vehicle before the driver allegedly sped away.

About 6.30pm yesterday (Thursday, 11 January 2024) police again observed the same Holden Cruze in Tharwa. Two unmarked police vehicles followed the driver, believed to be the 28-year-old man, and attempted to stop the vehicle on a residential street in Theodore.

Police will allege the man refused to stop and instead drove away at considerable speed on the opposite side of the road. The driver narrowly avoided crashing into a police vehicle but collided with a wall before fleeing the scene.

Officers quickly located the extensively damaged Holden Cruze at the man’s residence in Theodore. Another occupant of the home told police the man had fled, but a search of the house revealed he was hiding under a bed.

The man was arrested and taken to City Police Station where he returned a positive result to a drug screening test.

He will face ACT Magistrates Court today, charged with driving while disqualified, aggravated furious, reckless or dangerous driving and having prescribed drug in oral fluid or blood.

Anyone who may have witnessed these incidents or has dash-cam or CCTV footage that could assist police, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 7644411. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

A Macquarie man and woman will face the ACT Magistrates Court today after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of electronic goods from a store in Belconnen.

Police will allege that on Sunday (7 January 2024) the pair gained access to the rear loading dock of a store in the Belconnen Westfield shopping centre and took several boxes.

CCTV footage showed two people loading the stolen items into a white Toyota Corolla and police enquiries linked the 33-year-old man and 44-year-old woman to the theft.

Police arrested the pair yesterday (11 January 2024) and a search of the home recovered the stolen items, along with several registration plates and bank cards in the names of other people, also believed to have been stolen. Enquiries in relation to the stolen registration plates and bank cards are ongoing.

The man has been charged with aggravated burglary, the joint commission of theft and unlawful possession of stolen property.

The woman, who is subject to a good behaviour order, was charged with aggravated burglary, the joint commission of theft and unlawful possession of stolen property.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking to identify a person who assisted a woman who was allegedly assaulted last Thursday in Bonner.

About 10.45pm on Thursday (25 January 2024) a woman was allegedly assaulted at the roundabout of Roy Marika Street and Essie Coffey Street, Bonner.

About this time, the person – who is believed to either be a nearby resident or was close by at the time – assisted the woman by interrupting the altercation.

To assist with the investigation, police are asking this person to come forward and identify themselves to police.

Police would also like to speak to anyone else who may have witnessed or heard the altercation occur.

Anyone who witnessed the assault or has information that could assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number 7656887. Information can be provided anonymously.