Burglary and kidnapping charges, East Trinity: A 26-year-old Gordonvale man is in custody following a bizarre series of incidents on Wednesday night.
It will be alleged that the man attended a Pine Creek Road address at around 7.20pm on Wednesday night where a 38-year-old man and two boys aged 10 and 13 were inside eating dinner.
The offender allegedly threatened the man with a knife before forcing his way into the residence and demanding a drink of water. The man was not known to any of the residents.
It will be further alleged that he then demanded the three residents get into their vehicle and drive him into town. The resident drove the vehicle and the man directed him to drive around the Edmonton, Bentley Park and Woree areas for some two hours, all the while maintaining the presence of a knife.
The resident continually negotiated with the man and stopped the vehicle near Ravizza Park at Edmonton, at which time the man got out of the vehicle and the resident then sped off and advised police.
Investigations conducted throughout the course of the day led officers to a Norman Street address at Gordonvale where the man was located and taken into custody without incident.
He was charged last night with three counts of kidnapping and one count each of burglary and unlawfully entering premises and committing an offence whilst armed and threatening violence.
He is scheduled to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning.
Man charged over dangerous driving and other incidents, Cairns: Police charged a 36-year-old Parramatta Park man on Wednesday evening following a four vehicle traffic crash at North Cairns.
Police had received information from several motorists in relation to the manner in which the man’s vehicle had allegedly been driven prior to the crash and further inquiries revealed a string of alleged offences.
It will be alleged that the man had stolen the keys to the vehicle from an associate on Wednesday morning before taking the vehicle without the owner’s permission.
At around 3.30pm the man was driving the vehicle on the incorrect side of the Cairns Western Arterial Road near a Caravonica school when he allegedly forced a number of oncoming drivers to pull off the roadway.
It will be further alleged that he stopped on the Captain Cook Highway at Smithfield and got out of the vehicle and urinated, before getting into the vehicle again and proceeding to the McGregor Road roundabout, driving against the flow of traffic before proceeding south on the Captain Cook Highway towards Cairns.
Witnesses reported the vehicle driving erratically along the highway prior to it entering Cairns North and crashing into a line of stationary vehicles near the intersection of Sheridan and Arthur Streets.
Police attended and spoke with the man and he allegedly refused to undergo a roadside breath test.
He was arrested and transported to the Cairns police station where he allegedly refused to undergo a second breath test.
The man was charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, driving whilst under the influence of liquor or a drug, public urination and two counts of failing to provide a breath specimen.
He is due to reappear in the Cairns Magistrates Court this morning.
Police are seeking to identify a male witness who was walking in a southerly direction on the footpath beside the Captain Cook Highway between the Smithfield and Caravonica roundabouts at the time the alleged offender was driving north on the highway.
Other witnesses reported seeing the man being forced to jump clear and roll from the path of the oncoming vehicle as it travelled along the grass verge.
This male is described as being about 40-50 years of age and was wearing a high visibility vest and carrying a bag. This man, or anyone who knows his identity, is urged to make contact via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Property charges, Cairns: Officers from the Cairns Property Crime Squad charged two male youths yesterday as part of ongoing investigations into recent property offences.
The officers located a suspected stolen vehicle in Luisa Street at Edmonton at around 10.30am, and identified it as having been stolen from a Kanimbla address during a burglary offence on Monday night.
Further inquiries led police to two Manoora addresses yesterday afternoon and two youths aged 15 and 16 were taken into custody.
They were charged with a total of 19 offences including stealing as well as multiple counts of burglary, unlawful use of motor vehicles and entering premises with intent.
The offences are alleged to have been committed at Kanimbla, Smithfield, Whitfield and Machans Beach between February 20 and 22.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.