Crimeline
Aussie and taxi driver in punch up
A 33-year-old Australian man has been charged with assault after he allegedly kicked a local taxi driver in the head, with the 33-year-old taxi driver also charged with alleged wilful damage.
Police were called to Camp Street at 11.20pm on Saturday, 19 July, after an argument and scuffle between the pair.
“The passenger got out of the vehicle and allegedly took a photo of the vehicle’s registration number,” Constable Amanda Shute says. The driver then got out of the vehicle and allegedly hit the phone out of the passenger’s hand causing it to land on the footpath, which cracked the screen.
“The passenger, in response, has allegedly lashed out and kicked the driver in the head, leading to both men having a scuffle and being separated by members of the public.”
Assaults after removed from bar
In still more violent offending, Police were called to Shotover Street at 10.30pm last Wednesday, 16 July, after one of two men removed from a bar allegedly pushed the other man in the chest and spat on him.
Shute says the suspect left briefly and then returned, pushing and spitting on a second victim. He left prior to Police arriving but was located in another local bar on Saturday. The man was arrested and charged with two charges of assault.
Drink driving charge
A 37-year-old local man has been charged with drink driving after a minor vehicle collision in Fernhill at 10.10pm on Monday, 21 July.
Shute says a vehicle collided with another parked vehicle and the driver allegedly blew 722mcg. He’s been charged with operating a vehicle carelessly and drink driving.
Meanwhile, Police caught a number of alleged drink-drivers at checkpoints on 18 July.
They include a 20-year-old local man, who allegedly blew 448mcgs, a 43-year-old Australian man, 707mcgs, and a 19-year-old Auckland man, 529mcgs. Drivers under 20 have a zero-alcohol limit. All are summonsed to appear in the Queenstown District Court:
Skifield accidents
The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter and St John Ambulance have responded to a number of skifield accidents since Saturday, 19 July.
A St John spokesperson says they attended a ski accident on Coronet Peak just before 1pm on Tuesday, 22 July. A patient was airlifted to Dunedin Hospital.
They also airlifted a patient to Lakes District Hospital from Coronet Peak after a fall just after 5.30am on Monday, and a patient was airlifted to Dunstan Hospital after a fall near Rob Roy Glacier just after 2pm on Monday. No status was available for any of these patients. The helicopter also attended other skifield callouts at the weekend.
