CLAIMS WA POLICE HARRASSED FEMALE ONSLOW ABORIGINAL ELDER
New claims of WA Police harrassing Aboriginal people in the Pilbara have emerged, this time in Onslow.
Residents of the small Pilbara town of Onslow have claimed WA Police officers entered the home of a local female Aboriginal Elder without permission and harassed her and threatened to shoot a dog on the premises late last month.
Another Aboriginal Onslow woman, who was present at the time of the alleged incident on Saturday, September 26, made the claims to Ngaarda Media last week.
The woman claimed three officers entered the woman’s home early that morning, harassing her and threatening to kill a dog at her home.
WA Police said in a statement officers were called to the Burt Close incident about 10.30am that morning, after receiving a call from the public about a family violence incident underway between two men.
One of the men, a 33-year-old, was already wanted for “a serious arrestable offence” and was later arrested and charged with several offences.
Ngaarda Media’s Tangiora Hinaki interviewed the Onslow woman last week (audio below).
WA Police said that about 3am last Saturday several people known to each other got involved in a verbal altercation that led to the 33-year-old man got into a Toyota Prado parked nearby.
Police alleged the man drove and accelerated towards the 37-year-old victim several times, who had to move out of the way, before the accused left in the Prado.
At about 8am, the two men met again on Burt Close, where police alleged the accused again tried to run the other man down with the Prado, before a 10.30am call brought police to the scene.
Police did not directly respond to questions about entering the home, but said during enquiries at one address, a large dog broke free of a leash and officers at the scene used capsicum spray.
On Tuesday, the 33-year-old Onslow man went to Onslow police station, where he was arrested and charged with two counts of Unlawful Act or Omission with Intent to Harm; one count of no authority to drive and one count of using an unlicensed vehicle on a road.
Police also said officers including the Officer in Charge of Onslow Police later went back to Burt Close to check on the welfare of a local Elder.
Police said they were “extremely fortunate to have an incredible team of Aboriginal police staff and sworn officers who provided invaluable guidance and training”.
Police also said they work closely with Aboriginal communities across the state and those relationships remained a priority, and that Aboriginal cultural induction training was mandatory for all officers stationed in the Pilbara.
The 33-year-old man is due to appear before Karratha Magistrates Court on October 20.