Crimeline: Meth and weapons charges

Meth and weapons
A 53-year-old Dunedin man is facing nine charges, including possession of methamphetamine, utensils for that, possession of cannabis, and unlawful possession of two firearms including a sawn off 12-gauge shotgun, after being pulled up for allegedly speeding on Frankton Road in the early hours of 30 March.

Community and Youth Constable Amanda Shute says the man was allegedly driving at about 90km per hour in the 70km per hour zone. When stopped Police allegedly noticed a full shotgun cartridge in the footwell, and a sawn-off shotgun and another unloaded shotgun elsewhere in the vehicle. “Neither the man, nor his male passenger, held a firearms licence and a search of the vehicle was carried out,” Shute says. Police also allegedly found a quantity of methamphetamine, cannabis, drug utensils, and a number of offensive weapons, including a wooden baton, screwdriver, metal chisel, a fold-out knife, scissors and an axe. The man has been remanded in custody to appear in court at a later date.

Bar brawl
A nine-person brawl broke out at a local residential bar about 5pm on 30 March after an alleged disagreement arose when a man’s unleashed dog began fighting with another dog outside.

A 55-year-old man was arrested and charged with assault with intent to injure and made his first appearance in the Queenstown District Court on 2 April. Police were called to the brawl and upon arrival all parties had been separated and the two main aggressors had left, Shute says. “The incident is alleged to have begun after the offender’s friend’s unleashed dog began fighting with the victim’s dog.”

Hostility at hostel
A 48-year-old North Island man, who was a bit worse for wear at 5.45am on 28 March, was issued with a trespass notice after allegedly causing a disturbance at a local backpackers’ hostel. Police attended and the man was issued with a trespass notice and removed, however, he returned 15 minutes later and was subsequently arrested by Police, Shute says. He will face a charge of wilful trespass in the Queenstown District Court on 12 April.

Easter drinking driving
Five drivers were stopped by Police locally for driving with excess breath alcohol levels over the Easter weekend. A 22-year-old Queenstown woman allegedly blew a breath alcohol level of 555mcg and a 52-year-old Queenstown man blew 535mcg. They’re both due to appear in the Queenstown District Court on 12 April. Infringement notices were issued to the three other drivers, whose breath alcohol levels were between 250mcg and 400mcg. They were each fined $200.

Otago Lakes Central area road policing manager Sergeant Steve Watt says that for most of the Easter break behaviour on our roads was good, with people showing patience and care, especially given the heavy volume of traffic around the area. “Unfortunately, there were still some motorists who continued to speed and exhibit poor decision making, putting other road users at risk,” Watt says. “Whether our roads are busy or not, we encourage everyone to drive to the conditions and look after each other by sticking to the rules.”