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House of hoons: 16 more arrested on 50 charges as police warn mob

Sixteen more people have been arrested in a series of raids over an “out of control hooning” as Queensland police warned anti-social behaviour which risks public and officers’ safety will not be tolerated.

 

Mar 19, 2024, updated Mar 19, 2024

The police raids at the weekend resulted in more than 50 charges laid over the March 9 event during which 350 people blocked Bourke Street Waterford and members of the crowd allegedly damaged three police cars.

Other individuals also allegedly committed hooning offences, doing burn-outs in the street and driving dangerously.

Specialist police and officers from several surrounding districts were needed to bring the crowd under control.

Police are also investigating Sydney-based rapper Spanian who attended the event as part of his Youtube series “Into the Hood” series.

Logan Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Brendan Blyth said investigation into the social media influencer are ongoing.

“My message would be that if persons do attend these events, it’s really up to them to control their behaviour and do the right thing in line with our community  standards. If they don’t, there will be a level of accountability.

“And at the end of the day, the social media influencers aren’t going to be sitting beside them if they do have to go to court for anything like that,’’ he said.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Blyth said the kind of “terrible” behaviour seen at the event showed a blatant disrespect of police and will not be tolerated.

“I just like to take the opportunity to remind people that at these kinds of events, it’s really important that they do the right thing. Police are all about making sure the community maintains a safe standard for people,’’ he said.

The charges include serious assault police, hooning offences, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and enter premises and commit indictable offences.

 

The charges follow the arrests of three other men who allegedly attended the event by investigators from Operation Whiskey Hurricane.

Police released footage of the event and appealed to the public to identify individuals in the crowd.

Logan Superintendent Mark Thompson said the crowd engaged in alleged dangerous driving behaviours, committing multiple traffic-related offences, and placing members of the public at significant risk of injury.

“These activities are not just reckless; they disturb and endanger the lives of the community and cause significant property damage,” Superintendent Thompson said.

“This behaviour will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable.

Superintendent Thompson said the Digital Intelligence and Community Engagement (DICE) team was equally important in the police investigation given the large number in attendance and volume of content on social media.

Among those charged is an 18-year-old Park Ridge man charged with one count each of possessing dangerous drugs, dangerous operation of a vehicle, participating in group activities for racing, burn out, or other hooning offence, possess utensils or pipes etc that has been used and evasion offence.

He is due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on April 22.

A Waterford West man, 20, has been charged with one count each of wilful damage of police property, commit public nuisance, enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence and unlawful photographing, filing or publishing for racing, burn out or other hooning offence.

He is due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on April 3.

A 28-year-old Beenleigh man faces several charges included with two counts of wilful damage of police property and contravening order about information necessary to access information stored electronically.

He has been refused police bail and is due to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on March 19.

Police thanked the public for their support and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information on hooning activity or the March 9 event contact Policelink on 131 444 or make a report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

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