Armed Squad Raids Follow Mataura Attack

Four people have been arrested and charged over an alleged violent assault at a Mataura hotel carpark just before midnight on June 27.

The arrests followed a coordinated police operation last week. Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird said officers, backed by the Armed Offenders Squad, executed a number of search warrants in Mataura on July 3.

"CCTV footage of the incident has assisted our enquiries to date," Baird said.

The charges are serious. A 34-year-old man has been remanded in custody, facing injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and injuring with intent to injure. A 20-year-old man faces the same grievous bodily harm charge, plus assault with intent to injure. Two others — a 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman — are each charged with injuring with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

All four are due back in the Gore District Court on August 5.

Police are still appealing for witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident to come forward. Baird was direct about where the investigation is headed.

"We want to make it known that this type of violent offending will not be tolerated in the community, and that the offenders will be held to account."