14-year-old arrested after allegedly stabbing Darwin police officer
A 14-year-old girl allegedly stabbed a police officer on a Darwin street before being tasered and arrested.
The officer was taken to Royal Darwin Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries to his upper arm and chest. Police say the girl had first assaulted a security guard and damaged items at a shopping centre on Smith Street, just before 4:30pm.
The girl was tracked on CCTV to nearby Cavenagh Street, where officers found her with a 16-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl. When officers approached, the girl produced a kitchen knife and struck the officer.
A taser was deployed and she was arrested at the scene. Police also located and arrested the other two youths at a nearby unit complex.
The strike force is continuing to investigate and charges have not yet been laid.
- 14 years old
- Age of accused
- Smith Street and Cavenagh Street, Darwin
- Location
- Just before 4:30pm
- Time of incident
- Kitchen knife
- Weapon used
Why it mattersPolice say officers must be able to respond to emergency calls without facing violence; the incident raises questions about youth safety and crime in the CBD.
AustraliaPolice assaults are rising in Australian cities; this incident in Darwin highlights ongoing safety concerns for law enforcement and the public in city centres.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 d ago
