Victorian detectives have arrested eight people over an alleged assault on a 19-year-old off-duty police officer in Shepparton, in the state's north-east.
Police allege an orange motorbike was being driven erratically along Maude Street at about 12:30am on Sunday, October 25. The off-duty officer asked the rider to leave the area near the licensed premises and was then allegedly surrounded by a group of males. He and his friend, also 19, were allegedly punched in the face and kicked before the group fled. Both were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.
On Thursday detectives searched eight properties in the Greater Shepparton area, arresting a 16-year-old boy, three 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men. They were interviewed and are each expected to be charged on summons. Police also arrested a 20-year-old Kialla man and released him pending further enquiries. A 17-year-old boy presented himself to a police station on Friday, where he was interviewed and released pending summons. Mobile phones, an off-road motorcycle and an imitation firearm were seized as part of the investigation.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The arrests bring an investigation into an alleged attack on an off-duty police officer to a point where suspects have been identified and interviewed.
- The incident sent two 19-year-olds to hospital, though their injuries were not life-threatening.
- The case will now move toward court, with most of those arrested expected to be charged on summons.
Background
The alleged assault took place in the early hours of Sunday, October 25, on Maude Street in Shepparton, in Victoria's north-east. The off-duty officer had asked the rider of an orange motorbike to leave the area near licensed premises when he was allegedly surrounded. Both victims were treated at hospital and released.
What to Watch
- Formal charges and any court dates for the eight people arrested.
- The result of further enquiries into the 20-year-old Kialla man released pending investigation.
- Whether the seized items, including an imitation firearm, play a role in the charges.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
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- SupportedEight people were arrested over the alleged assault on an off-duty police officer in Shepparton.Just In: “Detectives have arrested eight people following an alleged assault on a young off-duty police officer in Victoria's north-east. Victoria Police alleges an orange motorbike was being driven erratically along Maude Street, Shepparton”
- SupportedPolice allege the 19-year-old officer and his 19-year-old friend were punched and kicked near a licensed premises.Just In: “The 19-year-old off-duty officer was allegedly surrounded by a group of males after he asked the rider to leave the area near the licensed premises. He and his friend, also aged 19, were allegedly punched in the face and kicked before the group fled.”
- SupportedVictorian detectives arrested eight people over an alleged assault on a 19-year-old off-duty officer in Shepparton, in the state's north-east.Just In: “Detectives have arrested eight people following an alleged assault on a young off-duty police officer in Victoria's north-east. Victoria Police alleges an orange motorbike was being driven erratically along Maude Street, Shepparton”
- SupportedPolice allege an orange motorbike was driven erratically along Maude Street at about 12:30am on Sunday, October 25.Just In: “Victoria Police alleges an orange motorbike was being driven erratically along Maude Street, Shepparton at about 12:30am on Sunday, October 25.”
- SupportedThe officer asked the rider to leave the area near the licensed premises and was then allegedly surrounded by a group of males.Just In: “The 19-year-old off-duty officer was allegedly surrounded by a group of males after he asked the rider to leave the area near the licensed premises.”
- SupportedThe officer and his friend were allegedly punched in the face and kicked before the group fled.Just In: “He and his friend, also aged 19, were allegedly punched in the face and kicked before the group fled.”
- SupportedBoth men were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.Just In: “They were both taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.”
- SupportedOn Thursday, detectives searched eight properties in Greater Shepparton and arrested a 16-year-old boy, three 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men.Just In: “Detectives on Thursday searched eight properties in the Greater Shepparton area, arresting a 16-year-old boy, three 17-year-old boys and two 18-year-old men.”
- SupportedThe six people arrested in the searches were interviewed and each is expected to be charged on summons.Just In: “They were interviewed and are each expected to be charged on summons.”
- SupportedPolice arrested a 20-year-old Kialla man and released him pending further enquiries.Just In: “Police also arrested a 20-year-old Kialla man and released him pending further enquiries.”
- SupportedA 17-year-old boy presented himself at a police station on Friday, was interviewed and released pending summons.Just In: “A 17-year-old boy presented himself to a police station on Friday, where he was interviewed and released pending summons.”
- SupportedMobile phones, an off-road motorcycle and an imitation firearm were seized as part of the investigation.Just In: “Mobile phones, an off-road motorcycle and an imitation firearm were seized as part of the investigation.”