Crimeline
Police have been dealing with some alcohol-fuelled aggression with fighting and late-night assaults occurring in downtown Queenstown this past week.
Police were called to Queenstown Mall after reports that six or seven males were fighting at 1.15am on 27 April. Community and Youth Constable Amanda Shute says once the fight had dispersed a verbal argument occurred between a person involved in the fight and another male. “This male has then allegedly pushed the other causing him to fall through a window of a local clothing store.” An 18-year-old Queenstown male has been charged with wilful damage and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on 3 May. It’s not known if the victim was injured as he’d left the scene before Police arrived, but Shute says they’d like to speak to him.
On Anzac Day at 6.46pm Police were called to a Church Street bar after an intoxicated male had been refused service. The man had then allegedly assaulted a staff member and caused damage in the bathroom, Shute says. “He was charged with wilful damage and common assault and is due to reappear in the Queenstown District Court on 21 June.
A 32-year-old Queenstown male was also given a formal warning for assaulting another male, allegedly punching him in the back of the head, after a verbal altercation in Camp Street at 6pm on 27 April.
Two males from out of town have also been given formal warnings after allegedly being found fighting, also in Camp Street, not long after at 4am on 28 April.
Shute says Police are seeing an increase in dishonesty offences like shoplifting, particularly from local supermarkets, possibly due to the high cost of living at present. “If people are struggling then there are services available to them like Ministry of Social Development emergency grants,” she says. “We’d also urge people in difficult positions to reach out to other help agencies like the Salvation Army and Happiness House for support.”
Meanwhile, the drink driving offences continue. A 28-year-old Queenstown male allegedly blew 894mcg/l of breath when he was pulled over and breath tested in Goldfield Heights at 5pm on 29 April. An alleged repeat offender, the man will face charges in the Queenstown District Court of driving with excess breath alcohol, third or subsequent, and driving contrary to an alcohol interlock licence.
Two drivers also received infringement notices for allegedly driving with breath alcohol levels exceeding 250mcgs, but not more than 400 mcgs, after being stopped at a checkpoint in Frankton on 26 April.
Police are urging any would-be new recruits to turn up to their recruitment seminar at the Queenstown station in Camp Street at 7pm on Wednesday, 8 May. They’re looking for “self-motivated, community minded people who can think on their feet and keep calm under pressure”, Shute says. “We’re looking for interest from all parts of our community as we strive for a Police force that reflects the diverse composition of our community.” Anyone aged 18 and over who’s interested in joining the Police is welcome. The seminar is aimed at providing information and answering any questions that prospective applicants may have. Register your interest for this event by emailing Sergeant Simon Matheson on simon.matheson@police.govt.nz.
