A Queensland Police officer has garnered praise for confronting a teenager accused of car theft with a blunt assessment of the community's sentiment. The incident, which occurred on June 28 in Cairns, was captured on bodycam footage.
Queensland Police allege that three teenage boys stole a Toyota Kluger from Edge Hill. After police deployed a tyre deflation device, the vehicle came to a stop and the occupants allegedly attempted to flee. In the footage, an officer approaches one teenager who is lying on the ground and states he was "only a passenger." The officer responds, "You're still in the car. The community has had enough."
"They're sick to their guts of you jumping in cars, driving around like pork chops, putting everyone else at risk, going into people's homes," the officer continued. "Who the hell do you think you are, mate?"
Following the arrest of the first teenager, officers apprehended two other youths walking on a nearby street. All three teenagers were taken into custody.
A 16-year-old boy was charged with two counts of entering premises and committing, and one count each of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, trespass, and possessing an instrument for house breaking by night. A 17-year-old boy was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle. Another 17-year-old boy faces charges including two counts of entering a dwelling and committing, possession of an instrument for house breaking by night, unlawful use of a motor vehicle, trespass, attempted entry into a dwelling and committing, and possession of a knife in a public place or school.
All three were refused police bail and appeared before the Cairns Children's Court on Tuesday. The incident and the officer's remarks have been met with approval by many members of the public online, who expressed support for the officer's direct feedback to the alleged offenders.
