Attempted robbery bungle
A Manoora man arrested after a police chase is accused of punching a retail worker and dashing from a Bruce Highway tobacconist toward a south Cairns police station.
About 3.30pm on Wednesday, police allege the 32-yearold entered the Edmonton tobacco outlet, grabbed the register and started to walk away.
A 19-year-old female shop assistant attempted to stop the man and was then allegedly punched in the face.
The woman continued to struggle with the man which caused him to drop the register.
The man allegedly scrambled to collect cash from the footpath outside the Bendigo Bank and ran off.
Officers at the Edmonton police station saw the man and arrested him after a short foot chase.
A Manoora man was charged with one count of robbery with violence, obstructing police and wilful damage.
He was expected to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court on June 1.
Meanwhile in Cairns City, a 27-year-old man has been arrested following a separate, unrelated alleged robbery outside a medical centre on Florence Street last night.
Police allege the man, 27, approached a 68-year-old man standing outside a medical centre at 11.50pm and demanded the older man hand over his suitcase before assaulting him and taking the suitcase.
A witness attempted to intervene, but was allegedly threatened by the man, 27, with a knife.
Police conducted patrols and found the accused a short time later.
He was charged with one count each of robbery and going armed so as to cause fear and two counts of common assault.
The man was denied bail and appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court today.