Police news: Four charges follow wanding operation. Naked rampage ends in jail. Man exposes himself to children
Police conducted wanding operations and street checks in Nambour on 22 July under Operation Sunshine Safety.
The operation continued a police focus on the Jack’s Law initiative where police use hand-held scanners to wand or detect illegal weapons in public places. Police said the ongoing operation would include proactive high visibility patrols focused on community safety in the Nambour CBD and public transport hubs.
On 22 July, Nambour police, the Sunshine Coast Child Protection Investigation Unit, Sunshine Coast Tactical Crime Squad, and Railway Squad conducted 34 street checks and 41 wandings, resulting in the detection of two knives and a quantity of dangerous drugs.
• A 54-year-old Nambour man was allegedly found with a knife at a public transport station in Nambour on 22 July and has been charged with one count of possessing a knife in a public place. He has been issued a notice to appear in Nambour Magistrates Court on 18 August.
• A 16-year-old Morayfield boy was allegedly found with a knife at a public transport station in Nambour on 22 July. He has been charged with one count each of possessing a knife in a public place, fare evasion and stealing. He has been issued a notice to appear in Caboolture Childrens Court on 20 August.
•A 30-year-old Maroochydore man was allegedly found with cannabis at a public transport station in Nambour on 22 July and has been charged with one count of possessing dangerous drugs. He has been issued a notice to appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on 22 August.
• A 43-year-old Nambour man was street checked and charged with stealing for allegedly stealing items from a business on Howard Street at Nambour on 25 April. He was to appear in Nambour Magistrates Court on 4 August.
Sunshine Coast District Officer Superintendent Craig Hawkins said it’s important that the community not only is safe, but also feels safe.
“These proactive patrols are in addition to wanding operations across the Sunshine Coast under Operation Marshall, and in addition to the day-to-day work of local frontline police.”
Naked rampage ends in jail time for Nambour man
A Nambour man who terrorised his community with a string of indecent acts has been sentenced to time served after spending four months in custody.
The Courier-Mail reports Anthony Mohan-Druce, 45, pleaded guilty to several offences including wilful exposure, trespass, public nuisance and drug possession.
His behaviour included sitting naked on a doorstep for half an hour, following women through the streets, and masturbating in public parks.
On December 30, he was found naked and hiding under a home after a series of lewd acts on Tamper Street, prompting a frightened resident to submit a victim impact statement describing the lasting emotional toll on his partner.
Mohan-Druce’s solicitor said his behaviour stemmed from drug use and long-term mental health issues, noting he had just been released from hospital on the day of the final offence.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis jailed him for 122 days – time already served.
Man pleads guilty to exposing himself to children at Nambour
A Nambour man who touched himself in front of three children has escaped a certain stint behind bars.
The Courier-Mail reports three children, aged between 11 and 13, were walking down a Nambour street on November 15, 2023 when they spotted Jeremy William Lindsay sitting on a stool in his car port.
Lindsay was arrested and charged with three counts of indecent treatment of children. He pleaded guilty to all three charges in court last month.
Judge Michael Williamson KC described the acts as “gross” and “disturbing” but said the Nambour man would be a “vulnerable inmate” in custody.
He instead jailed Lindsay for 18 months’, which was suspended immediately for the same period.
The 40-year-old was also placed on an 18 month probation order with a conviction recorded.