Police in the Northern Territory have charged a woman following an incident at a Moulden bottle shop and supermarket where a worker was allegedly spat on twice. The altercation escalated when the worker, after being spat at, followed the customer to her car and deployed pepper spray through the driver's window.
According to NT Police, the customer was initially asked to leave the premises after verbally abusing staff and throwing items. When a female staff member informed the woman she needed to leave, the customer allegedly spat in the staff member's face on two occasions. The employee then reportedly retrieved personal oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray from inside the store and used it on the woman through her car window. A child was reportedly in the vehicle at the time.
The woman later attended Palmerston Police Station with her child, reporting adverse effects from the OC spray. She has been charged with assaulting a worker and is scheduled to appear in court on November 18.
The owner of the bottle shop, who is the husband of the worker involved, described the incident as "pretty awful" but declined to provide further details, stating they would emerge during court proceedings.
The Northern Territory Government is currently trialling a program allowing eligible adults to legally purchase and carry OC spray for self-defense. To be eligible, buyers must be at least 18, provide identification, complete a declaration, and purchase the spray in person from a registered dealer. The trial, which began in September 2025, was recently extended to December 2026. The use of OC spray is restricted to lawful and reasonable self-defense, with misuse potentially leading to charges under the Weapons Control Act 2001.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and police are seeking information from the public.