Category: MIL-OSI

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses who assisted a man who may have been hit by a vehicle in Kambah on Monday, 20 November 2023.

About 10.35pm police received reports of a man lying unconscious in the middle of the road at the intersection of Summerland Circuit and Kingsmill Street, Kambah.

Prior to police arriving, at least one member of the public, who is believed to work at a hospital, rendered assistance to the man.

Police would like to speak to the woman who assisted the man, and anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dash-cam footage.

If you were driving through the intersection prior to 10.35pm on Monday night then police would ask that you come forward. The injured man was wearing a black t-shirt, black pants, and a dark coloured backpack.

To assist in the investigation into this incident, police are also asking for dash-cam footage from any vehicles that passed through the area of Livingstone Avenue, to the intersection of Drakeford Drive and O’Halloran Circuit between 7.00pm to 11.00pm.

While investigators have spoken to some witnesses, other drivers may have seen the man and may be able to assist police.

Anyone who can assist police is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference number 7599591. Information can be provided anonymously.

Source: ACT Police

The ACT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have laid an additional seven charges in relation to the possession of child abuse material following an investigation that commenced in 2022.

A 66-year-old man previously charged in February 2023, will face court today (Thursday, 23 November 2023) where the additional charges will be laid.

Following forensic analysis of seized electronic items, an additional seven charges will be laid. These include two counts of access child abuse material, one count of access child pornography material, one count of make available child pornography material, one count of solicit child abuse material, one count of possess child exploitation material, and one count of fail to report as required.

Anyone with information about the creation, accessing, or distribution of child exploitation material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.

***

Note to media:USE OF TERM ‘CHILD ABUSE MATERIAL’, NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’

Use of the phrase “child pornography” benefits child sex abusers because it:

• Indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and

• Conjures images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.

Each photograph captures an actual situation where a child has been abused. This is not ‘pornography”.

Source: ACT Police

A 31-year-old Banks man has been charged with assault and driving offences following two seperate incidents on the weekend.

About 9.30pm on Friday (17 November 2023), a grey BF Ford Falcon was parked in a Majura Park car park. The driver of the Ford, who was nearby, observed a white Toyota Landcruiser drive into the rear of his vehicle, causing significant damage.

The driver of the white Toyota Landcruiser, the 31-year-old Banks man, left the location and failed to provide details with the driver of the Ford.

Later that evening at about 1.40am on Saturday (18 November 2023), a group of people were sitting in the front yard of their residence in Kingston, when three men approached the group.

The 31-year-old man from Banks was holding a knife and a hammer in his hand.

Police will allege the man then struck one of the people sitting at the Kingston residence with a hammer in the face and back of the head, and repeatedly threatened them.

Upon police arrival, the group of men took off. Police located the group of men in the white Toyota Landcruiser a short time later in Kingston.

The 31-year-old Banks man was breath tested at the scene, later returning a breath analysis reading of 0.144.

The man will face the ACT Magistrates Court today charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, reckless threat to kill a person, damage property and driving related charges.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing and further charges may be laid.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing continues to support the victims of family violence incidents with more than 70 arrests made in November.

Associated with the arrests – 185 charges were laid, with assault and breach of family violence orders accounting for a majority of the charges.

Victims were referred to emergency crisis support provided by ACT Domestic Violence and Crisis Support and will receive ongoing assistance from ACT Policing’s Family Violence Unit and ACT Policing Victim Liaison Officers.

Officer in Charge of ACT Policing’s Family Violence Unit, Inspector Dave Williams, said these figures were not unusual to see each month for this crime type.

“Unfortunately, seeing a high volume of arrests and charges laid relating to family violence offences is not uncommon,” Inspector Williams said.

“Police respond to various forms of family violence each day including assault, sexual assault, property damage, and threats.

“We understand how confronting and scary each incident can be, and we urge victims experiencing any form of family violence to come forward.

“You are not alone. Police and other support services are available and in place to assist victims of this awful crime.”

Police take all reports of family violence seriously, and continue to investigate all forms of offending to ensure victims and the community are kept safe and offenders are held accountable.

If you are a victim of family violence or believe someone you know is the victim of family violence, you can contact police on 131 444 or Triple Zero (000) in an emergency, or attend any police station. You can also make a report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.

The following support services are also available:

ACT Domestic Violence Crisis Service 02 6280 0900

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre 02 6247 2525

YWCA Canberra 02 6185 2000

ACT Government family violence services

Source: ACT Police

A 23-year-old man from Stirling will face the ACT Magistrates Court after being caught more than three times the legal alcohol limit. 

About 10.45pm on Friday, 8 December 2023, police conducted a traffic stop on a Toyota Hilux on Streeton Drive, Weston. 

The man underwent a breath screening test which was positive. He was subsequently transported to Woden Police Station, where he returned a breath analysis of 0.180 grams of alcohol per 210 L of breath. 

The driver was issued an immediate suspension notice, suspending his right to drive in the ACT for 90 days. 

The man will face the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date charged with drink driving.  

ACT Policing is urging drivers to plan ahead before a night out heading into the festive season, as penalties can and will be imposed on those caught drink driving.

Source: ACT Police

A 33-year-old Forde man will face court in January (2024) following an incident on the Majura Parkway earlier this month.

On Friday, 1 December (2023), ACT Road Policing officers were travelling south on the Majura Parkway when they were allegedly passed at speed by a motorbike with one rider onboard.

Police activated their lights and siren and the rider indicated he would pull off the road, however he failed to do so. Soon after he exited onto Fairbairn Avenue where he allegedly proceeded through the intersection against the lights and then travelled down an adjacent bike path. Due to concerns for community safety, the pursuit was terminated.

Subsequent investigations led police to identify the rider and on Thursday (7 December 2023) the 33-year-old was arrested at a building site in north Canberra.

He was charged with eight offences including fail to stop for police, unlicenced driving, using an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, speeding, dangerous driving, not keeping left, not stop at lights and drive in a bike lane. The man received police bail and will face the ACT Magistrates Court in January.

Source: ACT Police

Three men will face court following the discovery of the largest illegal controlled and prescription drug distribution network ever identified in the ACT and Victoria.

In August 2023 a joint investigation with Victoria Police was commenced to identify and disrupt a criminal group allegedly distributing significant quantities of controlled and prescription drugs including Xanax, Valium, anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, clenbuterol, THC gummies and psilocybin chocolates.

Police allege the three men were sourcing significant commercial quantities of these drugs and then operating a sophisticated marketing, sale and distribution network for individual buyers. The buyers were located across Australia and the group, operating online under the ‘OzPharmLabs’ name, allegedly distributed their products via the postal system.

Yesterday, simultaneous search warrants were executed in the ACT region and in Melbourne.

A 38-year-old man was arrested at a residence in O’Connor and a 27-year-old man was arrested at a home in Gordon. Both will face more than 20 charges including traffic in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, supplying anabolic steroids and traffic in a controlled drug other than cannabis. The 38-year-old has also been charged with contravening a 3LA order and weapon possession.

A 39-year-old Googong man was arrested by NSW Police and is expected to be extradited to the ACT to face 40 charges including participating in a criminal group, trafficking in a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, dealing in the proceeds of crime to a value greater than $1,000,000, obtaining financial advantage by deception, dealing in identification information for the purpose of committing an indictable Commonwealth offence, supplying anabolic steroids, trafficking in a controlled drug other than cannabis, contravening a section 3LA order and supplying declared substances

As part of yesterday’s activity, police seized unprecedented quantities of controlled drugs as well as approximately $200,000 in cash, a house, five vehicles, three motorcycles and designer goods. Multiple bank accounts were also restrained.

Police expect to lay additional charges against all three men once the drug seizures are fully collated and forensic examination of digital items is concluded.

Detective Inspector Mark Steel said this cross-border group were likely responsible for a significant portion of the illegal prescription drug market in Australia.

“These three men were allegedly running a sophisticated, coordinated and deliberate illegal business with the sole goal of illicit profit,” said Detective Inspector Steel.

“ACT Policing and Victoria Police have coordinated their investigation and resolution activity and this should serve as a warning to anyone seeking to profit from illegal activities.

“If you are operating across borders you will face the combined efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies. We will arrest you, seize your assets and put you before courts to face significant criminal charges.”

Anyone who has information about the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the ACT is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via theCrime Stoppers ACT website. Information can be provided anonymously.

Note to Editors – still and video imagery from warrant activity and video of a media stand up is available at – https://spaces.hightail.com/space/vP2BlyjTWu

Source: ACT Police

The Kids in Care charity has handed over hundreds of toys today to ensure Canberra’s most vulnerable kids all receive gifts on Christmas Day.

Kids in Care was established in 2013 after Detective Sergeant John Giles attended a job at Christmas time and found four small children who had been neglected. Detective Sergeant Giles knew these children would not experience Christmas like most, and organised donations of toys to make sure they would receive gifts on Christmas morning.

Since 2013, Kids in Care has grown to a point where it now supplies gifts to all children supported by ACT Child and Youth Protection Services and regionally through NSW Department of Community and Justice, not only at Christmas but throughout the year. Kids in Care has also expanded to provide ‘Go Bags’ for children put into last minute emergency or foster care.

Speaking at today’s handover event, Kids in Care Chairperson Detective Leading Senior Constable Alex Uren said the annual toy handover was bittersweet.

“We are so proud to be able to ensure vulnerable kids in our community receive gifts this Christmas – just like other ACT children,” said Detective Leading Senior Constable Uren.

“But it also is a stark reminder that there are many kids who have experienced trauma, don’t have stable home arrangements and are in care at Christmas and throughout the year.

“Kids in Care will continue to support these children with gifts and Go-Bags to make their lives just that little bit happier.

“We would like to thank everyone who has donated gifts to date and those that are yet to do so. All donations are gratefully received before Christmas and during the year.

“Since 2013, Kids in Care has been able to brighten the Christmas of thousands children across the Canberra region. We can’t do this important work without the generosity of local businesses and Canberrans – so to all our supporters we say thank you.”

For more information  – Kids in Care

Source: ACT Police

A 68-year-old Melbourne man has been arrested following the death of Irma Palasics in 1999, the second arrest to take place in an investigation that has spanned more than 24 years.

About 9.30pm on 6 November 1999, two men forced their way into the McKellar home of elderly couple, Gregor and Irma Palasics.

The couple were bound and savagely beaten before the men ransacked their home and stole cash and jewellery. Irma did not survive her injuries and died at the scene.

What followed was a significant investigation, with multiple avenues of inquiry considered.

Following a review of the investigation and other outstanding cases in 2021 a new investigative strategy was commenced. This ultimately led to the arrest of a 68-year-old man in Melbourne on 20 September 2023, who was charged with one count of murder.

On Wednesday (6 December 2023) ACT Policing investigators, with the assistance of Victoria Police, attended a residence in the Melbourne suburb of Endeavour Hills and arrested the 68-year-old man. He faced the Dandenong Magistrates Court yesterday (Thursday 7 December 2023) where his extradition to the ACT was granted. He is scheduled to face the ACT Magistrates Court today (Friday 8 December 2023) charged with one count of murder.

The second arrest for this matter comes after continued investigations following the first arrest in September.

Detective Superintendent Scott Moller from ACT Policing’s Unsolved Homicide and Long Term Missing Persons team said the second arrest was the culmination of a significantly complex investigation and was deeply gratifying for all involved.

“This investigation has spanned across several years, with our team of investigators having worked tirelessly to ensure the Palasics family were provided with answers,” Detective Superintendent Moller said.

“While the first arrest in September was tremendously satisfying, being able to provide comfort for Irma’s family and the Canberra community with the second and final arrest this week is what all of the investigators worked towards.

“I would like to thank all the officers and support staff who worked on this case over the past 24 years for their commitment to bringing those allegedly responsible for Irma’s death before the court.

“There is no more traumatic experience than having to deal with the senseless murder of a loved one, so to the family of Irma Palasics,  we are pleased to provide this outcome.”

ACT Policing’s Unsolved Homicide team continue to investigate other long term unsolved matters. Anyone with information in relation to any of these matters should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or via www.crimestoppers.com.au.

Source: ACT Police

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a suspicious house fire that occurred in Kambah last Thursday. 

About 4.30pm last Thursday (30 November 2023), ACT Fire & Rescue and police attended a house fire on Jamieson Crescent, Kambah. 

Upon arrival, a two-story house was well alight. No people were injured, however significant damage was caused to the property. 

Following an examination of the scene, the fire was deemed suspicious, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. 

Police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity on Jamieson Crescent, or nearby Marconi Crescent, prior to 4.30pm on the day of the fire, or who may have dash-cam footage from the area before or during the fire. 

Anyone with 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 7608377. Information can be provided anonymously.