Cop hurt in shop fracas

A CAIRNS police officer has been left bleeding from the neck and arm after a dramatic shopping centre struggle and foot chase with a suspected thief.

Several charges have been laid against a 20-year-old Earlville man after the melee at the Stockland Cairns Shopping Centre yesterday.

A police officer was performing beat duties at the Mulgrave Rd complex about 2pm when he tried to arrest a person of interest in a stealing offence allegedly committed at the centre in April.

A physical struggle ensued, during which the male officer sustained a laceration to the neck and forearm.

The man fled from the centre on foot and the officer gave chase.

The pursuit wound up at a nearby unit complex where the man allegedly attempted to hide, before setting off again to run a short distance before being apprehended.

The officer received firstaid treatment for his injuries and was able to continue his duties. The man was charged with several offences including stealing, serious assault and obstructing police.

He was also charged with possession of tainted property after a suspected stolen hotel room key was allegedly found in his possession.

He is scheduled to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today.

In the meantime, a teen has been charged over an alleged early morning burglary that lifted car keys, a phone and several credit cards from a Cairns home.

Police allege a 16-year-old White Rock boy gained entry to a Grove St home in Parramatta Park about 3.15am on Wednesday.

The owners woke to the sound of their dogs barking and saw several youths gathered around their vehicle in the front yard.

The youths fled on foot after being spotted and the incident was reported to police.

Police crews attended the scene and established a cordon around the area soon after.

The boy was allegedly found hiding in the garden of a nearby home and taken into custody.

A phone located in his possession was seized and returned to the owner.

The boy was charged with burglary, as well as two further charges of attempted burglary and stealing relating to another incident alleged to have occurred at Mooroobool in February.

He is due to appear in Cairns Children’s Court.