Cafe owner who bravely tackled a man firing a rifle in town’s main street is CHARGED with assault – and locals are outraged even if the gunman was only doing his job
- A man has faced court after he tackled a gunman to the ground in a small town
- Maurice Behan, 55, was not aware the man with the rifle was a pest controller
- Terrified residents made numerous calls to Triple 0 over the bizarre incident
A brave cafe owner who tackled a gunman to the ground while he was firing a rifle in the main street of a quiet town has faced court on assault charges that have outraged locals.
In a bizarre misunderstanding, the man with the rifle was a pest controller hired to cull pigeons living on the roof of shops in the picturesque Adelaide Hills town of Strathalbyn on .
But no-one had informed the locals, and Hammer’n’Tongs Cafe owner Maurice Behan, 55, leapt into action as terrified residents called Triple 0 and ran for shelter – fearing a madman was on the loose.
A brave cafe owner who tackled a gunman (pictured right) to the ground while he was in the midst of firing off rounds in the middle of a quiet town’s main street has faced court charged with assault. (The man pictured left is not the cafe owner)
In a bizarre misunderstanding, the man with the rifle was a pest controller hired to keep the pigeon population down in the picturesque Adelaide Hills town of Strathalbyn
While his actions won the admiration of locals, it did not impress police and he was charged and faced Mt Barker Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.
Mr Behan’s barrister David Edwardson QC told the court that hired marksman Nicholas Adams never produced any permit or identification when approached and asked why he was firing the gun.
‘He was walking up and down the main street armed with a rifle equipped with a silencer and telescopic sights’,’ Mr Edwardson QC said.
‘Elderly members of the community and school children took refuge because of their concerns at this activity.’
Mr Edwardson said there were at least seven Triple zero calls made by terrified residents.
Ms Duncan adjourned the matter until April 1 as the prosecution considers whether or not the case will go forward.
Maurice Behan, 55, owns the local cafe Hammer ‘N’ Tongs in the stunning Adelaide Hills town
Residents in the 6500-strong community have voiced their outrage online over the issue – insisting the popular cafe owner should not have been charged for the misunderstanding.
Many have laid blame for the incident on the pest controller.
‘Scared me at the time. Regardless of whether he has a job to do, not providing name/permit when concerned members ask is ludicrous!! And no signage or warning gives people the right to question him,’ a Facebook user on the Moving Strath Forward page wrote.
Another said: ‘A man walking around the streets with a loaded gun, has the power to calm a situation or add fuel! I’d be more concerned members of the public DIDN’T question him.’
Strathalbyn ward councillor for Alexandrina, Craig Maidment, said in a letter to Mr Behan the pest controller did not follow protocol
‘If it had done so then council policy would have dictated that a council officer would need to be present during the pest control operation and appropriate signage and identification would need to be provided,’ he wrote.
Residents in the 6500-strong community have voiced their outrage online over the issue and stood in support of Behan who they say should not have been charged. Pictured: Hammer ‘N’ Tongs cafe
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