By Brendan Rees
A woman brandishing a knife has been arrested after allegedly stabbing one security guard and slashing the shirt of another at Fountain Gate Shopping Centre on Wednesday 25 June.
The incident unfolded when security staff approached a man and a woman outside a department store, believed to be Kmart, after suspecting they had stolen items about 5.30pm, police say.
“The conversation escalated into an aggressive altercation with the woman allegedly producing a knife and slashing the arm of one of the security staff,” a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
“Police say the pair then ran back through the store with the two security guards following. The altercation continued with the woman allegedly lunging at one of the security officers, slashing his shirt,” the spokesperson said.
A male customer rushed to the aid of the security officers and tackled the man while the woman allegedly continued her rampage and threatened staff and customers.
A number of police units attended and arrested a 34-year-old Narre Warren South woman and a 39-year-old Noble Park man.
Paramedics were also called and the pair were taken to hospital after sustaining injuries.
The woman remains in hospital with the man being released into police custody on Thursday morning, 26 June.
Police say a security guard was also taken to hospital with a stab wound.
Detectives are currently interviewing the Noble Park man over the incident and he is expected to appear at the Dandenong Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, 26 June.
In a statement, Ambulance Victoria said: “A woman in her 30s was treated for a hand injury. A man in his 30s and a man, believed to be in his 20s, were treated for upper body injuries,” the statement said.
All three were taken to Dandenong Hospital in stable condition.
One onlooker described the incident as a “big scene”, which was cordoned off with police tape.
