As it happened: WA news on Friday, July 25

WA Police have just revealed details of an incident at a Joondalup shopping centre on Thursday afternoon, where a man carrying a knife allegedly tried to steal a car, before setting off several flares.

About 3.40pm, the 29-year-old man from Banksia Grove allegedly attempted to steal a rideshare vehicle and then set off a flare which damaged the car.

The driver was also allegedly assaulted and received facial injuries.

The man then went inside the Lakeside Joondalup shopping centre and allegedly set off a second flare while carrying a knife.

He was detained by security guards – one of whom sustained minor injuries to his knee – with members of the public also stepping in to help.

The 29-year-old also received a laceration to his hand and was taken to hospital for treatment.

He has been charged with several offences including attempted aggravated robbery, criminal damage and destruction of property, endangering the life, health or safety of a person and carrying or possessing an edged weapon.

“The actions of all involved ensured no one was seriously injured and potentially prevented a tragic outcome,” Assistant Commissioner Martin Haime told reporters at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

“It’s unsettling with previous events in other jurisdictions but the reality is, it was a very positive outcome yesterday due to the actions of the public and the security officers involved.

“A number of people present may have filmed the incident, and we urge those people to contact 131 444.”

Police are treating the offending as a mental health incident. The man appeared in court today.

WA police say they have charged a senior officer with stalking.

A police spokesperson said the officer had previously been stood down from the force.

She has been charged with four counts of unlawful use of a computer system and one count of stalking.

She remains stood down, and is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on August 6.

Thanks for following our live blog – that’s a wrap for today. We’ll be back soon with more live coverage.

A 46-year-old Watermans Bay man will fight allegations he strangled an 11-year-old player at a children’s soccer match in May.

Prosecutors allege Steven James Naoum was at a junior soccer game at Abbeville Park in Mindarie on May 25 with his son when he approached an 11-year-old boy during a game between Mindarie FC and Whitford City FC.

It was alleged a “physical altercation occurred”, resulting in Naoum being charged with impeding another person’s breathing or circulation by applying pressure to the neck.

The court was told the boy was not injured and didn’t require medical treatment.

On Friday, he entered a plea of not guilty to the charge at Joondalup Magistrates Court.

The matter was next listed in Perth Magistrates Court on October 7 for a trail allocation date.

A trial date will then be set, which is expected to take three days.

WA Police have just revealed details of an incident at a Joondalup shopping centre on Thursday afternoon, where a man carrying a knife allegedly tried to steal a car, before setting off several flares.

About 3.40pm, the 29-year-old man from Banksia Grove allegedly attempted to steal a rideshare vehicle and then set off a flare which damaged the car.

The driver was also allegedly assaulted and received facial injuries.

The man then went inside the Lakeside Joondalup shopping centre and allegedly set off a second flare while carrying a knife.

He was detained by security guards – one of whom sustained minor injuries to his knee – with members of the public also stepping in to help.

The 29-year-old also received a laceration to his hand and was taken to hospital for treatment.

He has been charged with several offences including attempted aggravated robbery, criminal damage and destruction of property, endangering the life, health or safety of a person and carrying or possessing an edged weapon.

“The actions of all involved ensured no one was seriously injured and potentially prevented a tragic outcome,” Assistant Commissioner Martin Haime told reporters at a press conference on Friday afternoon.

“It’s unsettling with previous events in other jurisdictions but the reality is, it was a very positive outcome yesterday due to the actions of the public and the security officers involved.

“A number of people present may have filmed the incident, and we urge those people to contact 131 444.”

Police are treating the offending as a mental health incident. The man appeared in court today.

A Perth man has been arrested and charged following a break-in in Clarkson on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old man was allegedly in the company of two others when they broke into the house on Willoughby Retreat around 9.30pm.

Police say a struggle ensued with the residents, before the group stole an “item” and fled.

The man was refused bail and will appear in Perth Magistrates Court later today.

Earlier in the week, we bought you the news that a multimillion-dollar application had been made by Wesley College to revamp of its 60-year-old swimming pool – which the school says is at the “end of its useful life”.

The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel discussed that $12.1 million plan on Thursday and gave it the stamp of approval.

The development panel heard that the majority of the funding for the pool came from a “philanthropic donation,” with the remaining amount donated by the Wesley community.

The pool will be used from 5am or 6am in the morning, sometimes until 9pm or 10pm at night and members of the community can pay a fee to join and make use of the facilities as well.

The panel noted that there was a lack of other options in the area, and that the City of South Perth was not pursuing its own swimming pool project that had been on the table a few years ago.

The plans were voted in unanimously.