Crimeline: Phone thrown at Police officer
Phone thrown at Police officer
A 30-year-old Queenstown man faces multiple charges after allegedly blowing a whopping 1106mcg, then throwing his phone into the face of a Police officer at 8.40pm on Friday, 6 November. Constable Amanda Shute says Police were responding to multiple driving complaints about a vehicle travelling at speed and swerving across the median strip towards oncoming Frankton Road traffic. The alleged driver of the vehicle was located in the Queenstown CBD where he was breath tested. “Following the breath testing procedures the driver has (allegedly) thrown his phone at attending Police striking them on the face,” Shute says. The driver was then arrested for assault and allegedly resisted Police during the process. He was charged with driving with a breath alcohol level over 400mcg, resisting Police, two counts of assaulting a first responder and driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner, she says.
Frankton firefighters honoured
Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade honoured a whopping, combined 240 years’ service by its volunteers at a special awards night last Saturday, 7 November, with 25-year gold stars going to Andrew Doole and Bill Falcone. Chief fire officer Paul Halsted says other long-time volunteers were also awarded gold bars on top of their 25-year gold stars – second gold bars for Dion Halmshaw and Karl Argyle and a first for Jamie Harris.
Mike Skudder was honoured for his 45 years of service to the brigade. Frankton’s longest service brigade member is Stu Ide who holds a double gold star and has completed 55 years’ service.
“This was our first ever Frankton Volunteer Fire Brigade Honours Night as a a fully-fledged separate brigade,” Halsted says. “We’ve always celebrated our honours with the Queenstown Volunteer Brigade until now. I’m super proud of all our members and their selfless devotion and service to our community,” he says.
Marathon arrivals - Caution urged on roads
Patience, care and caution is being urged on local roads by Police, organisers and Queenstown Airport staff in the lead-up to this weekend’s Queenstown Marathon on Saturday, 14 November.
Otago Lakes Road Policing Manager Senior Sergeant Clint Wright says motorists should avoid driving during marathon weekend, if possible, “or expect long delays”. “If you need to drive around the time of the marathon, please pay extra attention to driving safely and exercise patience with other road users.”
Airport managers were expecting 54,000 passenger movements between yesterday, Wednesday, 11 November, and Monday, 16 November – about 6% more than during the same period for last year’s marathon. Airlines have scheduled 22 more flights than last year to help meet demand. Today (Thursday, 12 November) is expected to be the busiest day for arrivals with about 5000 passengers due to fly into Queenstown. About 5100 are expected to fly out on Sunday, 15 November. With huge traffic gridlock in recent years as runners attempt to get to the registration centre at Queenstown Events Centre, a walking route from the airport to the Events Centre will be well signposted. Airport managers are urging passengers to and from the airport to allow extra time with traffic congestion likely.
Other drink driving:
A 21-year-old local man has been charged after allegedly blowing 250mcg while on a zero alcohol interlock driver’s licence when stopped on Gibbston Highway for alleged speeding at 7.10pm on Saturday, 7 November.
A 21-year-old Southland woman allegedly blew 585mcg when stopped on Kingston Road at 4.30am the same day and has been charged.
Alcohol checkpoints netted five other drivers over the three days from 4 November until 7 November, three allegedly blowing 400mcg and one 399mcg and one 308mcg.
Milford Track Accident
The Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter flew one patient from the Milford Track to Lakes District Hospital in a minor condition at 11.22pm on Sunday, 8 November.
