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Man Accused Of Headbutting And Spitting On Police Officer After Being Told To Leave Sydney Beach

Man Accused Of Headbutting And Spitting On Police Officer After Being Told To Leave Sydney Beach

Beaches have been closed across the country to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

An Australian man has been charged with assaulting a police officer after being told to leave a Sydney beach.

New South Wales (NSW) police say the 29-year-old man and his female friend, 19, were on Maroubra Beach yesterday (March 30) morning.

Lifeguards allegedly told them they couldn't be there because the beach was close due to the coronavirus social distancing rules.

The man and woman are accused of verbally abusing the lifeguards, who decided to call the police to let them handle the situation.

Maroubra Beach.
Bilbao06

Officers descended on the beach to arrest the pair for breaching the law.

NSW Police have released a statement, which said: "As police attempted to arrest the man, he allegedly headbutted and spat on a female sergeant, causing a laceration to her lip and swelling to her head.

"Additional police attended and following a short struggle, the pair were arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station.

"The man was charged with assault police occasioning actual bodily harm, resist arrest, offensive behaviour and fail to comply with terms of notice erected by council."

The 29-year-old has been refused bail and was due to appear in court today.

Victoria Police/Facebook

His female friend was issued a Criminal Infringement Notice for offensive behaviour and fail to comply with terms of notice erected by council.

Police Minister David Elliott said this type of behaviour was abhorrent.

"I've had a gutful of people abusing, harassing and assaulting our hardworking police officers who put their own safety on the line every day to protect the very people who attack them," Minister Elliott said.

"If you choose to ignore a direction from police - one that is in place to save lives - then you can expect to be issued with a hefty fine or jail time."

Beaches have been closed across NSW because of the coronavirus.
PA

Mr Elliott was backed up by NSW Police Force Commissioner Mick Fuller, who said this will only encourage more officers to be deployed around the state.

"Our officers are committed to community safety and will continue to enforce all ministerial directions aimed to stop the spread of COVID-19," Commissioner Fuller said.

"If you choose not to comply with directions put in place to protect the community against this virus, you can expect to face the full force of the law."

People in New South Wales can cop fines of up to $11,000 or face six months behind bars if they're outside their home without a valid reason.

Featured Image Credit: Victoria Police

Topics: News, Australia