BIZARRE AXE SHOCK AT MACCA’S

Man, 37, arrested and charged after alleged armed robbery

North Queensland Police have made a major breakthrough after a man armed with an axe was captured on video allegedly robbing a Mcdonald’s fast-food restaurant.

Detective Sergeant Andrew Bye confirmed the arrest of a 37-year-old Ingham man in Cockburn Park on Davidson St on Friday night, less than 24 hours after the bizarre but frightening robbery at the Mcdonald’s Ingham drivethrough early on Thursday morning.

He said police executed two search warrants after receiving information following the release of CCTV footage of the incident, which netted the alleged thief just $40.

The officer in charge of Ingham Criminal Investigation Branch said that during the searches, including one at the man’s place of residence, police would allege that evidence was obtained linking the man to the crime.

Information was also obtained that led to police finding the man in the park in a botched attempt to evade arrest.

“He was initially detained under the Mental Health Act before being transported to the Ingham Hospital for assessment, was later released and then arrested by Ingham Police and formally charged with one count of armed robbery,” Detective Sergeant Bye said.

He said the Mcdonald’s staff had been left shaken by the incident but fortunately suffered no physical harm.

“As everyone would have seen in the footage, he (allegedly) presented that axe,” he said.

Sergeant Bye said that in addition to the Mcdonald’s CCTV footage, CCTV from neighbouring businesses had also been sourced that showed the man arriving at a nearby premises on an electric scooter and then using the vehicle to escape into the dark Ingham night.

Detective Sergeant Bye thanked members of the public for help to quickly resolve the case, as well the team efforts of officers from the plain clothes and uniformed branches of Ingham Police.

He said the allegedly violent

ha“We d to jump on top of it and get him in custody before he did another one, that’s always the fear

Detective Sergeant Andrew Bye

robbery was very unusual for Ingham.

“That’s why we had to jump on top of it and get him in custody before he did another one, that’s always the fear.”

The man was formally charged with armed robbery early on Saturday morning and was then transferred to Townsville where he remains in custody.

He is scheduled to appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Thursday, May 11.

Police have arrested a man they believe to be responsible for a frightening robbery at the Mcdonald’s Ingham drive-through. These CCTV images were captured during the crime.