A mother and daughter police officers are struggling to recover from the brutal attack that left Alice Springs under a three-night curfew, their family said.
Chris Hopper’s wife Jenny and daughter Charlee were among four off-duty officers walking back to their hotel early Sunday morning when they were reportedly attacked by a group of 20 men.
Mr Hopper, himself a former Queensland police officer, said he felt “defenceless”, “helpless” and “shocked” when he heard what had happened to his loved ones, who had only been living in the Northern Territory outback town for a week.
His daughter Charlee was punched in the face by ‘at least six adult perpetrators’ and kicked several times on the ground, and her head was crushed before her mobile phone was stolen.
She was left with a broken nose and facial injuries, including injuries to her jaws and teeth.
“She’s having trouble eating right now and they’re both having trouble sleeping,” Mr. Hopper said the courier post.
His wife Jenny’s glasses were knocked off her face as she tried to get her bag out after it was grabbed by the attackers.
Police officers Charlee (pictured left) and Jenny Hopper were attacked while off duty in Alice Springs
‘The perpetrators grabbed my wife by her hair and then threatened her with a large stone, as if they wanted to hit her in the face,’ said Mr. Hopper.
“She also has some superficial injuries to her face, but Charlee is the worst off.”
In addition to the mobile phone and the bag, a diamond ring was also stolen.
The pair and two other colleagues were walking back to their hotel from the Epilogue Bar when they were surprised to see a group of 20 men running towards them. They had no time to react.
The male officer did his best to protect the three women, but was unable to fend off the attacks.
Jenny and Charlee have been granted leave and Mr. Hopper plans to fly to Alice Springs to join them.
Then they drive to Darwin so Charlee can continue her treatment.
Chris (right in photo) and Jenny Hopper (center in photo) at their daughter Charlee’s police graduation ceremony
Mr Hopper said police had also responded, but called for tougher reforms to the Northern Territory Juvenile Justice Act to give officers more powers to tackle youth offenders.
He had lived in Alice Springs for the previous three years and his ‘contacts there’ had assured him that the Indigenous community there was ‘completely shocked by what had happened’ and he was deeply ashamed.
Mr. Hopper did not think his loved ones and their coworkers were being attacked because of their work, as they were not wearing uniforms at the time.
“It was an opportunistic attack and it could have happened to anyone, but it shows how uncontrollable the situation there can become,” he said.
The attack on the officers was part of a series of recent incidents that have led to a three-night curfew in Alice Springs, which is expected to end at 6am on Thursday morning.
The city’s business district was closed between 10pm and 6am, and adults and children were not allowed on the streets.
Despite these draconian measures, a brawl broke out outside a Coles restaurant just hours before the curfew was lifted.
Police were called to the scene around 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon after “multiple reports of a large group fighting with various weapons.”
On Wednesday, a brawl involving ‘several weapons’ broke out in Alice, in front of shocked passers-by
Police have seized hunting sticks, spears, a baseball bat and a machete
Two women aged 17 and 19 and three men were arrested.
No serious injuries have been reported.
“The crowd has dispersed and there is no threat to public safety,” police said.
“It is believed that the incident involves families who know each other.”
The detainees are expected to be charged with “various offences”, including disturbing public order and possession of an offensive weapon.
“I commend the work of our police department in quickly responding to the incident and apprehending the perpetrators,” Acting South Commander Drew Slape said of the incident.
“This type of violent criminal behavior has no place in our community. We will continue to take action against those who engage in this type of reprehensible behavior.”
Darren Clark, a local business owner and manager of Action for Alice’s social media accounts which document criminal and antisocial behaviour in the city, said there had been no word yet on whether the curfew would be extended beyond Thursday.
However, on Wednesday evening he told Daily Mail Australia he was confident the deadline would be extended.
Northern Territory Police Chief Michael Murphy announced a three-night curfew on Monday, the second time this year the troubled city has faced such draconian measures.
A three-week curfew was imposed over the Easter period after angry mobs took over the streets.