Darlinghurst Blog: Detritus: Police Action

There was quite a bit of police action on Bourke Street in the early hours of Friday morning and my trusty spy in the Darlinghurst flatlands, Ruby Molteno, was on hand to capture it all. The incident began about 1.15am with the sounds of car tyres screeching and an almighty crash, followed by the thuds of people running and a police siren. The next thing Ruby heard was a policeman yelling, ''Hands behind your head, or you'll get shot''. 

The police had cornered two suspects in an empty lot on Wisdom Lane. After cuffing them, the police made them lie face down on Barnett Lane, aka Ten Buck Alley, as they waited for back-up. 

Soon after, the police dogs arrived and barking like crazy they ran sniffing around the laneways before homing in on another two suspects who had jumped a fence into someone's back yard. 

All four were taken to Kings Cross Police Station.

So what was it all about? According to police sources that Ruby spoke to, the four men (who, incidentally, had shaved heads and mullets) were allegedly travelling in a car on William Street, when they tried to evade a Random Breath Testing stop. They veered out of control - nearly hitting a policeman - before crashing into a bike rack on Bourke Street and then making off on foot.

Night owl Ruby, who was passing by at the time, managed to see most of the action and later captured these pictures of the car being towed. 

I don't know what the men were charged with, but the bike rack no longer exists.

Across the Border: Kings Cross: Protest

Almost 200 protesters rallied outside the Trademark Hotel in Kings Cross last night calling for an end to ''Bouncer Brutality'', following the death of 33-year-old Wilson Duque Castillo.

The father of one was involved in an altercation with bouncers outside the Trademark Hotel on December 18, and remained on life support at St Vincent's Hospital until it was switched off on January 4.

Police have yet to charge anyone with Castillo's death and have made numerous pleas for witnesses to the altercation - which ended beneath the Coca-Cola sign on Darlinghurst Road, near Red Berry Cafe - to come forward. 

Castillo's sister-in-law, Helen Novanti (pictured above), led the protest last night, which was held just metres from where he was fatally bashed.

Protesters waved placards, held candles, and chanted, ''protection not aggression'',  ''witnesses come out'' and ''the law has to change''.

Police closed off a section of Bayswater Road from 8pm to 10pm for the protest, while around 30 general duties and specialist officers kept the crowd contained within a taped off area outside the nightclub.

Earlier in the day, Kings Cross Local Area Commander Superintendent Tony Crandell held a press conference outside the police station at Fitzroy Gardens. 

Supt Crandell said anti-social behaviour would not be tolerated and police expected a peaceful vigil. 

''Whilst police respect and understand the grief of those affected by Mr Duque-Castillo's death, we are not prepared to tolerate any breaches of the peace arising from tonight's protest,'' Supt Crandell said.

''I'd appeal to anyone attending the vigil, or other persons in the vicinity of the planned protest, to act in a respectful manner and obey the lawful directions of police.''

The crowd was passionate, peaceful and well organised, carrying carefully painted placards. At one point, towards the end of the rally, the protesters walked in a line around their cordoned off area, which ran from the door of the Trademark Hotel to the tree outside Ju Ju's Japanese restaurant. 

Passers-by were encouraged to sign a petition calling for tougher penalties for violent acts committed by bouncers, frequent audits of licences issued to bouncers and audits of security companies and training organisations.

I thought it was very brave of Castillo's widow, Raquel, to attend the protest and I had to admire the fact that they held it right outside the Trademark's entrance on Bayswater Road, where her husband had been refused entry just one month earlier. Raquel's sister, Helen, took the loudspeaker, inspiring the crowd and calling for the education of bouncers and for police to charge someone over Castillo's death. Castillo's brother, Wilmer, 27, was injured during the altercation and former league star John Hopoate was charged over that assault. Hopoate pleaded not guilty in court this week. 

The protest managed to attract the attention of a number of news organisations. 

The Trademark Hotel was noticeably closed during the protest, but reopened for business shortly after 10pm. 

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www.justiceforwilson.com

Darlinghurst: Plant Life: Spring Flowers

We are now in the third month of Spring, but in Darlinghurst the temperature has dropped, rain is drizzling and the winds are howling through the Plane trees. I can only recall three sunny weekends this season and that fills me with sadness. I love basking in the sun and singing through the streets on a deliciously warm day, but so far there has been very little of that going on.

Nevertheless, Darlinghurst is still spotted with spring colour, from the Daleks at the Darlinghurst Road and Victoria Street crossroads, to the fragrant colour at St Johns Church and the flowers in residents' gardens.

We may live in the inner-city, but Spring in Darlinghurst is blooming, proving you don't always have to flee the city or seek sanctuary in the Royal Botanic Gardens. You just need to keep your eyes open for bursts of pleasure.

Over the past few weeks I have gone blooming bonkers and have photographed the flowers that light my little heart, including these gorgeous Peonies (Paeoniaceae) - in the picture above - which were perched outside in all their splendour at PoHo florist on Macleay Street in nearby Potts Point.

I have listed all the flowers with their family name (to make me sound intelligent) and have also included pictures of cut-flowers purchased at local markets that have brought my apartment to life. Maybe Mother Nature will hear my prayers and praises and grant us with a sunny, flower-filled weekend.

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The First Flower I Can't Identify, Discovered on Darley Street (Unidentifiaceae):

Darley Street Yellow Hibiscus (Malvaceae):

Darley Street Yellow Roses (Rosaceae):

Darley Street Crimson Roses (Rosaceae) at Blossom Gardens Nursery:

Royston Street Red Begonias (Begoniaceae):

Royston Street White Primulas (Primulaceae):

Royston Street Small Purple Flowers (Unidentifiaceae):

Nimrod Street Rambling Yellow Flowers (Unidentifiaceae):

Royston Street Sunrise Clivia (Amaryllidaceae):

Royston Street Pale Pink Begonias (Begoniaceae):

Royston Street Exotic Pink Begonias (Begoniaceae):

Kings Cross Police Station's Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (Brunfelsia Bonodora):

And Indoors . . .

Kitchen Window Violas (Violaceae):

Bathroom Daffodils (Amaryllidaceae):

Dining Table Trio of Pink Orchids (Orchidaceae):

Spare Chair Oriental Lillies (Liliaceae):

And My Favourite Flower, Side Table Sweet Peas (Fabaceae):

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PoHo

117 Macleay Street

Potts Point NSW 2011

02 9331 4333

www.poho.com.au

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Blossom Gardens Nursery

112 Burton Street

Darlinghurst NSW 2010

02 9361 4786