Police have vowed to track down other hoons after a gathering on the Gold Coast turned violent, describing the offenders as “immature and irrelevant”.
Around 100 vehicles gathered on Christine Ave in Robina on Saturday night for what was supposed to be a peaceful protest about new anti-hooning laws.
The gathering had been widely promoted on social media, and Police were prepared for them.
The group began dispersing around 6.30pm before things turned ugly.
Police say patrol vehicles were pelted with bottles and rocks and kicked as they drove by.
“What happened next was concerning to us…a large rock, well over a kilo worth of weight was thrown and smashed the driver’s side window of one of the police vehicles,” Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon told the ABC.
“The officer driving had glass in their eye and cuts on their arms and the passenger also had cuts on their arms.”
The officers were later treated for minor injuries while a 20-year-old man was arrested.
IMAGE: NINE NEWS
The Boondall man has been charged with two counts of serious assault of police and one count each of wilful damage of police property and obstruct police and will front Southport Court on May 29.
In total, 17 people were arrested and charged with a range of offences.
“We’ve charged people with obstructing police, possession of knives, driving uninsured vehicles, the unlawful assembly. That’s the new legislation, and obviously the serious assault and willful damage. We also issued 18 traffic infringement notices on the night.
“Our aim is clear. These irrelevant people don’t deserve to have the privilege to be on our roads, and we’ll do everything we can to remove them from our roads.”
Police have pointed the finger at the notorious Mexican Hoon Cartel and say a large number of those who turned out weren’t even from the Gold Coast.
They expect to lay more charges as officers scour CCTV, social media and dashcam footage to identify other offenders.
“In policing, we always plan for the worst and hope for the best, but we saw the worst of some of these people and some of these people need to really take a hard look at themselves and ask themselves, do they want to remain in a society where they’re not welcome”.
