Arrests made in Brisbane cafes after COVID mandate breaches

The owner of a Brisbane café has been arrested for allegedly failing to enforce COVID-19 protocols.

Pierre Coorey was arrested after being fined for similar offences last month. 

The 52-year-old Capaldi business owner spent the night in jail at the Cleveland watch house after being charged with obstructing police, contravening direction or requirement, and failing to comply with a COVID-19 public health order. 

Coorey is accused of failing to enforce Queensland's COVID-19 directives for hospitality venues, which could lead to his eviction from the café. 

Coorey will appear in court next month.

A second Brisbane person was also arrested: a Hervey Bay woman was arrested for alleged contravention of police orders when she refused to prove her vaccination status. 

Police attended a Hervey Bay cafe after a call from a member of public concerned the café was not complying with health directives. 

"A woman, who was a patron of the café, repeatedly refused to provide her details when approached by officers," a Queensland Police spokesperson said.

"After several warnings, the 46-year-old Toogoom woman was arrested and charged with contravene a direction (fail to state name and address) and obstruct police." 

The actions of police did face some backlash from the public. 

The café owner called the arrest by five police officers "distressing" and "disturbing”.

"One of our customers, decided to leave the premises when the police came into the café. She was standing outside on the kerbside watching the police check our customers from table to table," the café's post read.

"She offered to give her name and address but politely declined to share her medical records, so they decided to place her under arrest for 'obstructing justice' without reading her rights. 

"It was incredibly disturbing to see this lovely, law abiding, tax paying individual, arrested and dragged into the back of a paddy wagon by five police, because she wouldn't share her medical records." 

The woman will appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on March 10.

Irit Jackson, 18^th January 2022