BY OLI GOELDNER
Police are ramping up investigations into a rowdy mass gathering at Mayfield Skate Park on Sunday.
At about 2pm Sunday, a crowd of more than 200 gathered at the corner of Ingall Street and Maitland Road for an event advertised by a clothing company.
The organisation promised more than $5000 in cash giveaways, as well as over 750 free items and 300 free t-shirts.
Newcastle police district commander Superintendent Kylie Endemi said they were aware of the event prior to Sunday.
"Police responded to that situation in the form of this operation, in response to intelligence gathering that we had conducted leading up to this event and some identified risks in relation to potentially what might transpire at that event," she said.
The organisation held a similar event around 24 May at Logan City in Queensland, which saw similar incidents occur.
In addition to the 150 to 200 attendees, a further 30 to 40 people were riding trail bikes on parklands and surrounding streets, many of which being unregistered.
"Their behaviour in the park and on our public streets was nothing short of dangerous," said Superintendent Endemi.
"It put people's lives at risk.
"Police who were on scene were forced to closed roads, there was a police car damaged and there was a civilian car damaged."
The only arrest was a woman involved in a alleged assault, who has since been released pending further investigations.
"There are significant investigations occurring at the moment in relation to everything that happened in this disorderly event yesterday," Superintendent Endemi explained.
"I want to make it clear to all those who behave in that unlawful manner that you might not have been arrested yesterday, but that does not mean police will not come knocking on your door."
Police are currently trawling through footage of the event, obtained through body-worn video, in-car video and Pol Air, to help assist in further inquiries.
Superintendent Endemi added they made an attempt to liaise with the organisers at the event.
"The Police Forward Commander tried to engage with the event organiser to seek their cooperation in terms of helping us to restore order and ensure that this event was conducted in a safe manner," she said.
"They did not assist police in that regard."
Ward 2 councillor and Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe said Council plans to launch further action to remediate costs for damage caused.
"There's obvious trail bike markings all through the parkland around the sporting oval at Dangar Park in Mayfield," she said.
"That is damage to a park that we all own together, collectively, and all of our funds, our rates, care for that park.
"So, for a company that makes a profit to use our park in that way and to damage it, they are responsible and they should be paying.
"It's not fair for those costs to have to be covered by rate payers.
"My understanding is that the council will be contacting this company and seeking payment for fixing our park."
