June 1, 2026
Police have charged 31 people with a total of 94 offences after a four-day operation targeting property, drug and motor vehicle offending in the South Burnett.
Operation Lionrock was conducted across Kingaroy, Blackbutt, Wondai, Murgon and Cherbourg between May 25-28.
Murgon detectives were joined by officers from the Darling Downs District Tactical Crime Squad, the Highway Patrol Unit, and general duty officers from surrounding stations.
They conducted searches and bail compliance checks as well as carrying out targeted street checks.
A police spokesperson said 24 drug offences, 10 property offences, 16 traffic-related offences and 16 offences against the person, including assault and DV-related matters were detected.
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On May 24, police observed a male rider on a black Honda CBR650 motorcycle with two young children not wearing helmets travelling along Barambah Avenue in Cherbourg.
Police will allege that when they attempted to intercept the motorbike on Murray Street, the driver accelerated away before abandoning the bike and leaving the scene.
He was arrested the next day in Cherbourg address and charged with eight offences, including unlicensed driving , driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle, riding without a helmet, and evading and obstructing police.
The 29-year-old was also charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm following an alleged assault involving a 20-year-old Cherbourg woman on May 1.
He is due to appear in Murgon Magistrates Court on June 18.
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On May 26, police attended an address in Cherbourg as part of an ongoing investigation into an incident on May 22.
Police will allege that a 73-year-old man was pushed to the ground by a 36-year-old man following a verbal altercation on a footpath. He older man suffered minor injuries.
A 36-year-old Cherbourg man has been charged with one count of serious assault as well as two counts of contravening a domestic violence order and is due to appear in Murgon Magistrates Court on June 9.
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On May 28, police conducted a search warrant at an Enid Court address in Blackbutt North and inquiries at a River Road address in Kingaroy, arresting three people following ongoing investigations into an alleged assault at Kilkivan on May 22.
Police will allege a man and a teenage boy were approached by three males on Hall Street, Kilkivan, and were physically assaulted before the three offenders left the scene.
It is alleged that the group were involved in an earlier traffic altercation along the Wide Bay Highway.
A 56-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy, both from Wondai, received non-life-threatening injuries.
A 37-year-old Blackbutt North man has been charged with one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and a 19-year-old Blackbutt North man has been charged with one count each of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and threatening violence.
Both men are due to appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on June 10.
A 17-year-old Blackbutt teenage boy has been charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, assault occasioning bodily harm and common assault.
He is due to appear in Kingaroy Children’s Court on June 8.
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Assistance Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said Operation Lionrock reflected an ongoing commitment to targeting recidivist offenders and reducing crime across the region.
“This operation demonstrates our continued focus on identifying and disrupting criminal activity across the district, including the South Burnett region,” Asst Comm Vanderbyl said.
“Through targeted enforcement action and proactive policing strategies, we are sending a clear message that unlawful behaviour will not be tolerated, and offenders will be held to account.”
