Five men have been charged with assaulting police at a petrol station in Sydney's west yesterday.
About 4pm (Friday 24 September 2021), officers attached to Raptor Squad spoke with two men outside a service station on Guildford Road, Guildford, after they were allegedly seen not wearing face masks, in breach of the Public Health Order.
The men, who are associates of a criminal group, allegedly became aggressive towards police, with one of them punching an officer before a struggle ensued.
Both men were arrested, before three other males arrived in a vehicle and allegedly began making threats towards the officers.
The officers called for assistance and police from Cumberland Police Area Command arrived a short time later.
The three men allegedly struggled with police before they were arrested.
Police searched the vehicle and located a knife which was seized for forensic examination.
There were no reported injuries during the incident.
Two men were taken to Granville Police Station and three others were taken to Auburn Police Station.
Three men aged 21,19 and 22, were charged with assault police, resist arrest, harass police, goods in custody, fail to comply with carry face covering direction and not comply with noticed direction s7/8/9 – Covid-19. They were refused bail and will appear in Parramatta Local Court today (Saturday 25 September 2021).
A 20-year-old man was charged with hinder police, fail to comply with carry face covering direction and not comply with noticed direction s7/8/9 – Covid-19. He was granted conditional bail and will appear in Burwood Local Court on Thursday 30 September 2021.
Another 20-year-old man is currently under police guard in Westmead Hospital and is expected to be charged upon release.
Raptor Squad Commander Detective Superintendent Jason Weinstein said the five men who are alleged to have assaulted, threatened and intimated police yesterday afternoon can expect to be held accountable.
"I make no apology for the actions of the police who acted within the bounds of the law."
"If you associate, facilitate or participate in a criminal group you should expect police to be watching you – ensuring every move you make in the public domain is acceptable and consistent with everyone else in the community," Det Supt Weinstein said.
Strike Force Raptor was established in 2009, before becoming a standalone squad in 2021. Raptor Squad conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity.
