Crimeline
Party drugs seized at Mardi Gras
Police removed a number of partygoers at last weekend’s Mardi Gras event with controlled drugs, including MDMA, other substances being sold as MDMA, and cannabis, but overall behaviour was good.
More than five thousand people attended the event and Alcohol Harm Prevention Officer Sergeant Simon Matheson says Police detained a number of people, aged from 18 to 28, who had been searched by security staff as they entered the Queenstown Events Centre. Various amounts of drugs were seized, with each case dealt with depending on the circumstances with the culprits detained and handcuffed by Police and refused entry or re-entry. No arrests were made.
Late night joy ride in stolen vehicle
A 28-year-old man was charged after a late-night joy ride over the Crown Range on Friday 28 June in an alleged stolen vehicle. Community and Youth Constable Amanda Shute says the male allegedly stole an unlocked vehicle from Camp Street, driving it from Queenstown over the Crown Range to Wanaka where he was spotted allegedly travelling at 181km/hr along Riverbank Road. He then parked at the waterfront and decamped from the vehicle on foot before being located shortly after by Police and arrested just before midnight. He has been charged with driving a motor vehicle at a dangerous speed, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and is due to appear back in the Queenstown District Court on 29 July.
Drink driving
A 41-year-old Central Otago man allegedly blew 970mcg per litre of breath after being stopped by Police locally and breath tested just after 11pm last Wednesday. He was issued with a 28-day suspension notice and will appear in the Queenstown District Court on July 19, charged with driving with driving with a breath alcohol level over 400mcgs.
A 40-year-old Queenstown man was charged that day, after undergoing an evidential breath test at a checkpoint shortly after 5.30pm. He allegedly blew a level of 479mcg per litre of breath and will appear in the court on 19 July.
Slow down at roadwork sites
Police are asking motorists to be mindful of roadworkers and slow down with a number of different roadworks projects underway around Queenstown. Otago Lakes Central area road policing manager Sergeant Steve Watt says roadworkers have a right to feel safe at work. “We do constantly get people speeding through the roadworks – at 50 and 60km/hr in a 30km/hr zone,” he says. “Obviously there’s a speed limit and they’re whipping past leaving these roadworkers feeling pretty vulnerable.” He’s urging drivers to be courteous. “They’ve got a job to do,” Watt says. Contractors have been doing a good job keeping roads safe.
