Seven people have been charged after police officers were allegedly assaulted and injured during a suspected drug bust in Bega, on the New South Wales South Coast. The incident occurred at about 12:10pm on Tuesday at the carpark of a Vinnies op shop on Gipps Street.
Police were responding to reports of alleged drug activity when they attempted to speak with a 26-year-old man who was seen talking to four people inside a parked car. The man allegedly became uncooperative and resisted police efforts. Officers arrested him and claim to have found 4g of methamphetamine in his possession. The man then allegedly armed himself with a hammer and tried to flee, but was unsuccessful.
The four occupants of the vehicle—two men aged 34 and 40, and two women aged 33 and 44—are then alleged to have surrounded a male constable and assaulted him. One man is accused of punching a male sergeant in the face, causing him to fall and strike his head on the concrete, resulting in a laceration near his eye. A senior constable also sustained grazes while trying to arrest a 30-year-old man who allegedly arrived and obstructed the ongoing arrests.
A 64-year-old woman also arrived at the carpark and allegedly tried to intervene. All seven individuals were arrested. A search of the vehicle allegedly located a quantity of drugs, an extendable baton, a prohibited weapon, drug paraphernalia, and scales.
The 40-year-old man was charged with multiple offences including assault police officer cause actual bodily harm, hinder or resist police, and possess prohibited drug. The 26-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drug, possess prohibited drug, and other offences. Both were refused bail and are expected to appear before court on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old man was granted conditional bail after being charged with assaulting a police officer and hindering an officer, and will appear in Bega Local Court on December 23. The 30-year-old man and the three women were issued Court Attendance Notices, with various court dates in November and December.
