Meth and cannabis found after vehicle stop

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A Toyota hilux with four males in it was stopped by Geraldton police last week which resulted in two people charged with drug related offences. 

At 12.15am on Wednesday 12 November 2014, officers from the burglary suppression team and volume crime team were patrolling the car park of the HMAS Sydney Memorial.

They stopped a white Toyota Hilux which was occupied by four males. 

Police say they had cause to search the Hilux which revealed a small amount of Cannabis and Methylamphetamine, a smoking implement and an amount of cash.

A 32 year old male from Rangeway has been charged with possess cannabis, possess methylamphetamine, and possess cash suspected of being unlawfully obtained. 

A 24 year old male from Utakarra has been charged with possess drug paraphernalia. 

Two vehicles set alight on High school Oval

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An Everything Geraldton reader sent these pics in of two vehicles torched on the John Willcock College oval early this morning. 

Early risers wondering what the smoke over Geraldton was... now you know.  

We also received reports of a vehicle pursuit through Karloo last night and reports this morning of stolen vehicles. It's unclear at this point if the incidents are related, but Geraldton police seem to be having another busy weekend. 

Scam alert - Watch out for FREE TRIALS

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From WA Scamnet:

Whether it’s a sponsored post in your social media feed or a pop up advertisement while you’re browsing the web, offers of ‘free trials’ or ‘samples’ are a common sight for internet users. 

But you know the age-old saying ‘there’s no such thing as a free lunch’. Well WA ScamNet’s research into these offers certainly backs that theory up.

Here’s a typical case study:

  • Consumer Protection receives a complaint regarding unauthorised credit or debit card transactions.
  • The consumer has signed up for a ‘free trial’ or ‘free sample’ of a product while they were online.
  • They were lured by an advert boasting promises such as weight loss by taking pills without exercise; muscle-building protein powders; teeth whitening gels; age-defying face creams; herbal medicines or natural remedies to cure health issues.
  • They had to pay a small fee e.g. $9.99 for postage/shipping and handling and this involved supplying their credit or debit card details.
  • After receiving their free trial or sample, they have received extra deliveries of the product without requesting it and their bank statement shows that they have been charged.
  • WA ScamNet checks the terms and conditions and finds that the fine print states that unless the consumer makes contact to cancel a proposed subscription they will be sent and charged for further full-priced supplies.

“Should you fail to call us on 1234-567-890 or email us at xxxx@xxxx.xxx within 21 days of subscribing to your free trial, you will be sent a 30-day supply every month thereafter until you advise us of your wish to cancel arrangement.”

  • Sometimes the business is based internationally and very difficult to contact because of the time difference and overseas contact points.
  • It is unlikely the consumer’s credit card issuer will provide a chargeback because the transaction is not necessarily fraudulent – the consumer has agreed to it.

WA ScamNet recommendations:

  • Think before you click – don’t be enticed by bold claims such as “fat-busting”, “miracle cure” or incredible “before and after” photos. 
  • Research the name of the website and product. Typing the name followed by the words ‘rip off’ or ‘scam’ into you search engine is a good way to look for negative information. You could find there is no scientific evidence to back up what’s promoted or fake photos may have been used; the website might even be bogus!
  • Watch out for hidden terms and conditions that lock you into an ongoing supply of the product. Always read any fine print you are agreeing to.
  • Beware of pre-ticked subscription sign-up boxes – uncheck them.
  • Make an appointment in your diary to cancel if you decide to go ahead with a free trial despite the subscription terms and conditions.
  • Keep an eye on bank statements if you have supplied your credit or debit card details, to make sure there are no unauthorised deductions.

WA SCAMNET is brought to you by the Dept of Commerce. Check out the Video above too from the US Federal Trade Commision which also gives a great explanation of the traps of free trials. 

Noisy neighbour gets arrested and attacks police

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Everything Geraldton often gets inquiries from the public regarding noisey neighbours. And if you've ever read the legislation around what noise levels are acceptable, you probably just ended up confused and frustrated. 

But you can always ring the police and make a complaint. 

And here's another tip, if the police ever knock on your door and ask you to turn the volume down, it's probably a good idea to do so. 

One Beachlands resident had a different idea on Sunday night.  

Police say they attended a house on Fitzgerald St around 7pm last night after receiving a noise complaint. The residents were advised to turn the music down and served a noise abatement direction.

An hour and a half later police had cause to re-attend the address where they seized the stereo, with "some resistance from the female resident" according to the report from Police. 

But the excitement for the evening didn't end there unfortunately.  

As police were leaving the unit the female resident started yelling abuse. She was advised to stop her behaviour, however it will be alleged, she continued the constant yelling and swearing, proceeding to throw soft drink over the police van, splashing a male police officer and the male resident of the house.

Police say the 33 year old woman was advised she was under arrest and during the process, she resisted by holding onto the male resident and falling to the ground, using her body weight to stop police from arresting her. Police officers had to lift her into the rear of the police security van and conveyed her back to Geraldton Police Station.

After arriving at Geraldton Police Station it will be alleged the woman continued being abusive towards police and unco-operative, ignoring officers request to comply with instructions.

Police say the offender's behaviour escalated and as she was being escorted to a room to be searched the offender turned and spat a large amount of saliva onto the chest of a female officer, splashing onto the officers face, arms and in her mouth.

The offender spat in the officer's face a second time.

The offender reached out with an open hand and scratched the 21 year old female officer’s face. The officer received scratch marks on her forehead and right check which started bleeding.

The offender was charged with failure to comply with a noise abatement direction, disorderly behaviour, resisting a public officer and assaulting a public officer.

In case you needed yet another reminder not to drink and drive

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Everything Geraldton readers were wondering what Police were doing measuring markings on the road in Sunset this morning. 

Around 8:45 last night (Thurs 6 Nov 2014) there was a vehicle collision when two vehicles tried to overtake a third car at the same time, according to Police. 

The vehicles were travelling North along Chapman Rd in Sunset Beach. 

A red Holden Ute and a Silver Kia Rio attempted to overtake the third vehicle at the same time.

According to reports from Police, the Holden driver attempted evasive action to avoid a collision with the Kia and the male driver lost control.

The female driver of the Kia also lost control and both vehicles collided.

The Holden hit the curb and crashed into a limestone wall, and the Kia came to rest on the road.

The Holden Ute driver sustained minor injuries and both cars were quite damaged. 

Police attended at the scene and it was ascertained the driver of the Kia had consumed alcohol. 

The 22 year old female driver from Mount Tarcoola has been charged with "Exceed 0.08" and will face Geraldton Magistrates Court at a later date.

 

Bunnings worker does fake refunds and pockets cash - Police

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$2502.65 worth of fake refunds were carried out by a female employee at Bunnings according to the results from investigations carried out by Geraldton Police. 

Police say the Spalding woman issued herself the money over 8 transactions between 1st and 18th December 2013. 

The 46 year old woman will face Geraldton Magistrates Court on 20 November 2014.

L Plater blows over four times alcohol limit and she had no supervisor - Police

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A 30 year old woman from Rangeway will head to court later this month charged with DUI and 'unauthorised driving by a learner driver'. 

Around 1 am this morning, Thursday Nov 6 2014, the woman was stopped on Rifle Range Rd for a random breath test. Police say they ascertained that the driver had consumed alcohol. 

After being conveyed to the Geraldton Police Station she gave a final reading of 0.234 grams of alcohol per 100ml of blood. 

That is more than 4 times the legal limit for regular drivers. But Police say this woman is a Learner driver. 

The legal limit for Learners is 0.0%

Police also say she was not accompanied by any other person in the vehicle and she was not displaying "L" plates to the front or rear of the vehicle. 

Reward offered for stolen photos

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Last night my nana and pop were broken into around 9 o'clock pm in the Beresford area nearby Allendale school. 

They stole her handbag and their mini iPad and left to 5th Street IGA in Wonthella where they attempted to use her bank card but failed twice as seen through bank statements. 

The card has been locked through her bank but on their iPad there are many photos of their trip around Australia that they only got back yesterday from. 

The iPad is locked so is no use to the bulgars but means a lot to them. In her handbag were two extremely sentimental black and white photos that she would very much like to get back. 

She doesn't care about much else but the photos as they mean a lot to her. If anyone saw anything unusual around that area last night or knows of anything about this burglary may you please contact police as soon as possible. 

This would mean a lot to her if these photos were back in her possession and a reward will be given to whom ever can provide us with any useful information or to hand back these lost possessions. 

Thank you

- sent in to Everything Geraldton 

Did you witness a fight near Breakers 3 weeks ago?

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Did you witness a fight near Breakers 3 weeks ago? 

Police are asking for your help.

A 25 year old man has sustained a serious eye injury from the incident. 

There were at least 5 males involved in the fight. 

Police say the fight broke out at about 11:45pm on Thursday 16 October 2014 between two groups of males. 

Geraldton Detectives are seeking any witnesses to the incident or anyone who has any information regarding the incident and asks them to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00.

3 firearms stolen - 2 recovered so far

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Fruitful investigations by Geraldton Police has resulted in five people being charged with numerous offences following a robbery where three firearms were stolen.

Police say that over the weekend the 3 firearms were stolen from a home on Hale Street in Rangeway. 

It's alleged that the offenders forced entry into the premises around 2:30am on Saturday morning (1 Nov 2014). 

It appears the offenders returned to the same premises and stole a metal detector. Police say this occurred between 1:00pm on Saturday and 1:10pm on Sunday. 

On Monday afternoon around 1:10pm, officers from the burglary suppression team executed a search warrant at an address in Keating St in Rangeway where they found and seized cannabis, methyl amphetamine and drug paraphernalia. 

Police also located a rifle scope and a quantity of metal firearm pellets.

At 5.10pm police executed another search warrant at an address on Weeks Court, Utakarra.

According to Police, the search yielded a quantity of Methyl-amphetamine and more drug paraphernalia.

As a result of the search, police attended a location in Moonyoonooka and recovered 2 of the 3 missing firearms.

Inquiries are continuing regarding the third outstanding firearm.

The details of the charges are below:

A 37 year old male from Rangeway has been charged with Possess Cannabis with Intent to Sell/Supply. He will appear before Geraldton Magistrates Court on 27 November 2014.

A 23 year old female from Rangeway has been charged with possess methylamphetamine. She will face Geraldton Magistrates Court in November 2014.

A 36 year old male from Utakarra has been charged with receiving, unlicensed person possess firearm, possess methylamphetamine & possess drug paraphernalia. He will appear before Geraldton Magistrates Court on 27 November 2014.

A 25 year old female from Utakarra has been charged with possess methylamphetamine. She will face Geraldton Magistrates Court in November 2014.

A 20 year old male with no fixed place of abode has been charged with 2 x Aggravated Burglary, 2 x stealing, possess Methyl-amphetamine, possess drug paraphernalia. He faced Geraldton Magistrates Court yesterday morning, 4 November 2014.

 

An interesting weapon to keep in your handbag

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Around 10:15am on Wednesday 29 Oct (yesterday), Police attended Rangeway Shopping Centre. 

They say they spoke with a woman and through the course of events ended up searching her bag. 

What they found was rather surprising. 

Police say they found a black stun gun device with an external 9 volt battery affixed to the device. 

They seized the device, and the 27 year old woman from Wandina will face Geraldton Magistrates Court in November charged with possess prohibited weapon.

 

Have a look at what Police seized yesterday

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Tuesday 28 October 2014 at around 7 in the morning, Geraldton police responded to a reported disturbance at a home on Mark Street.

They were informed that a women was in possession of a firearm.

Police say they negotiated the occupants out of the premises.

Police searched the home and say they found a sawn-off shotgun, a handgun , ammunition, an asp baton, a quantity of cannabis and methyl amphetamine, drug paraphernalia and cash.

Inquiries by police reveal that the shotgun was stolen as a result of a burglary on an address in Champion Lakes in September 2013.

A 24 year old female from Beresford was arrested and charged with the following offences;

1 x Possess Prohibited Drug
1 x Possess Drug Paraphernalia

A 30 year old male from Wandina was also arrested and charged with the following offences;

1 x Possess Prohibited Drugs
1 x Possess Prohibited Weapon
1 x Possess Unlicensed Ammunition
1 x Possess Unlicensed / Altered Firearm

Both persons charged will face Geraldton Magistrates Court in November. 

Please Please Please! Lock up your motor bikes

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Everything Geraldton has been receiving a massive amount of reports of stolen motor bikes, dirt bikes, quads and mopeds over the last few months.

We reached out to Police on the matter who say they have been pleading with the public for some time to secure their bikes securely.

They are soft targets, and theft of them seems to be an "opportunity" crime. 

Geraldton Police: "Typically we find a lot of theft reports come as a result of cars/homes not being locked and vehicles such as off-road motorbikes/mopeds not being secured."

While it may be a shame we live in a world where we have to secure our valuables, the reality is bikes are an easy target by criminals and need to be well secured.  

Burglaries decrease after drug busts

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Police say a joint operation targeting drug offenders last week resulted in "a significant reduction in reported burglary offences for the week."

Police from the Organised Crime Squad, Geraldton Detectives, Geraldton Volume Crime Team, Geraldton Burglary Suppression Team, Geraldton Police Station and Dongara Police Station executed 19 Misuse of Drugs Act search warrants resulting in 27 offenders being charged with 77 offences. 

Police say the link between mid level drug dealers and offenders committing burglary offences is well known. 

The charges were: 

  • Possess a Prohibited Drug with Intent to Sell or Supply

  • Attempt to Manufacture a Prohibited Drug (Methyl-amphetamine)

  • Aggravated Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm

  • Possess a Prohibited Drug

  • Possess Prohibited Weapons

  • Unlawful Possession (cash)

  • Unlawful Possession (stolen property)

  • Burglary

  • Fraud

  • No Authority to Drive

Police also say they seized a number of items:

  • 1 x Clandestine Drug Laboratory

  • 48.5 grams Methyl-amphetamine

  • 170 grams Cannabis

  • $4950 Cash

  • $10,000 Stolen property recovered

  •  5 Firearms (Hand guns, rifles and homemade pen gun)

  • 81 various rounds of ammunition

  • 4 Tasers

  • Crossbow

  • Offender’s vehicle were seized and impounded

This Doctor should not have been allowed to practice in Geraldton

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Dr John Myers has been found guilty of professional misconduct by the State Administrative Tribunal, following his actions at Geraldton Regional Hospital in June 2012. 

Extracts from the SAT decision:

  • Dr Myers is guilty of professional misconduct between 14 and 19 June 2012
  • On an occasion when the patient was doing a crossword in her room, Dr Myers entered [the patient's] room and shut the door behind him, moved behind [the patient], while enquiring how she was, put his right arm over her shoulder and fondled one of [the patient's] breasts without her consent.
  • Subsequently went to leave the room, said words to [the patient] to the effect of 'he would have another hug' and then hugged [the patient] and fondled her breast again while doing so, without her consent.
  • The following morning, Dr Myers said to [the patient] words to the effect that 'he felt a lot of ladies needed a breast massage in the hospital but not to tell anyone because they'll all want it'.
  • One evening, Dr Myers visited [the patient] and kissed her on the cheek and said words to the effect of 'Goodnight sweetie, I'll see you tomorrow'.
  • On another occasion, Dr Myers attempted to hug [the patient] while she was standing and asked her to kiss him.
  • Dr Myers said to [the patient] on several occasions, words to the effect of 'he wanted her to suck his cock' and 'he wanted to put his cock between her breasts' and 'rub his cock all over her body'.
  • Dr Myers also told [the patient] how gorgeous she is and while standing next to her said words to the effect of 'feel it, see how stiff you're making me'.  On that occasion, [the patient] told Dr Myers to go away and behave himself.  
  • Dr Myers did so but returned an hour later saying words to the effect of 'he was going to be good but couldn't help himself'.
  • One day, [the patient] was about to get up to have lunch when Dr Myers came into her room, leaned over and patted her twice on the bottom.  When the patient looked up in response, Dr Myers said words to the effect of 'it's alright but I just wanted to smack your bottom'.
  • Dr Myers touched and rubbed [the patient's] knee and stroked her hand.
  • On various other occasions, Dr Myers said to [the patient] words to the effect that:,1.9.1 'if she had a computer, they could make passionate love over the computer', 'think of him when she makes passionate love to her husband', 'he would like to get inside her robe with her', and said to [the patient] words to the effect that: he had a double bed at his house and gave her directions to go there and stay with him one weekend and, she was sumptuous, beautiful and sexy.

During the submissions it was noted several times that Dr Myers was not responsible for the patient, referred to only as PJD, and Dr Myers struggled to give an answer as to why he attended her. 

Dr Myers maintains his innocence, and claimed that the patient was manipulative.

The SAT board disagreed with Dr Myers' stating that the "allegation that PJD was manipulative, without any basis for that allegation, strikes us as an attempt to attack PJD's integrity so as to detract from Dr Myers' conduct and statements."

The matter of what the penalty will be is still to be decided. 

The Medical Board is to file and serve submissions on penalty within 14 days of these orders.

Dr Myers is to file and serve submissions in response on the question of penalty within 42 days of the date of these orders.

The doctor in question, who was practicing in Geraldton but was from Victoria, also had past findings against him:

  • Indecent assault in 2000
  • Unprofessional treatment of an elderly couple in 2000/01 including creating a "destructive relationship between the couple and their children"
  • "Unprofessional conduct of a serious nature" in 06/07
  • Had his registration cancelled in 2013 following a relationship with an infatuated patient from 1999 to 2008.

Police engaging community in Spalding

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Geraldton Police will be present at the intersection of Broome Street and Goldsworthy Crescent in Spalding on Wednesday 22 October 2014 between 10am and 2pm in a mobile police facility.

They are initiating a local strategy in an effort to engage and interact with the community in a high visibility setting. 

This initiative aims to give the public the opportunity to approach and converse with members of the Geraldton Burglary Suppression Team and Volume Crime Team. 

Geraldton Police encourage the community to interact and engage with their local police during this initiative to provide information in an effort to solve local issues. Geraldton Police also request for the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour.

The strategy hopes to gather intelligence and information in an effort to resolve recent, and prevent further, incidences of burglary offences in the area. This initiative aims to consolidate the relationship between the community and your local police.

Police need assistance in finding these males

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Geraldton police are asking the public if they can identify either of the people pictured below. Police say they may be able to help with enquiries into a  burglary in Spalding on the 12th October. Call Police 99234555 

Select option 4

Sunset Beach man charged with assault

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A 28-year-old male from Sunset Beach has been charged with trespassing, criminal damage and common assault and will appear in Geraldton Magistrates Court on October 30.

At 9:49am on Saturday September 2, a male offender was present at an address on Abraham Street Karloo, which belonged to another male known to him.

Police allege the offender approached the male occupant of the address and after a verbal altercation, punched him to the face and body, then struck him to the head with a small wooden baton causing bruising. 

Five days later on Tuesday October 7, the offender went back to the address on Abraham Street.

Police further allege that the offender jumped the fence entering the property and kicked the front window, causing no damage.

Police also say the offender exited the property by jumping back over the fence and approached a waiting vehicle, before returning back to the fence and kicking a panel, causing minor damage then fleeing the scene.