By Luke Voogt
A man allegedly spat on an officer about 2.20am on Friday before police arrested him during an overnight operation in central Geelong.
Police charged the 29-year-old Armstrong Creek man with assault and being drunk in a public place following the incident at Home House nightclub.
The man was bailed to appear before court on summons, Acting Sergeant Alecia Spalding said.
“Spitting is quite a disgusting act to have to put up with. It’s probably one of the filthiest things someone can do to us.”
Police also arrested a 24-year-old Marshall man at the same nightclub and charged him with trafficking drugs during Operation Pluto, which began on Thursday night.
The man was carrying pills and police confiscated them for testing, Acting Sgt Spalding said.
Police issued about a dozen penalty notices for offences such as riotous behaviour, failing to leave a licensed premise when requested and jaywalking.
Acting Sgt Spalding warned revellers to take care moving around the city centre at night.
“There are a lot of drunks that just cross the street willy-nilly,” she said.
“It’s quite dangerous.”
But the majority of people were well-behaved except “a few who ruin it for everyone”, Acting Sgt Spalding said.
“A lot of them are very thankful for our presence, it makes them feel safer. The licensees are too – even us just standing at their door, they appreciated it.”
Meanwhile an Easter long weekend blitz saw police nab 266 drivers and passengers and seven cyclists for various offences on Geelong and Surf Coast roads.
Police detected 167 people speeding during Operation Nexus from last Thursday to Easter Monday, including 128 in Geelong and 39 on the Surf Coast.
Several drivers lost their licenses due to speeding and other offences, according to Highway Patrol Acting Sergeant David Ramm.
Acting Sgt Ramm booked a man driving 145km/h along Geelong Ring Rd on Saturday, who faced losing his licence for six months.
Police detected another two motorists driving 30km/h over the limit through roadworks on Bacchus Marsh Rd, who faced a loss of licence of three months, he said.
“But generally people were behaved.”
Police caught 26 motorists drink driving or driving under the influence of drugs, 20 driving without a licence or while disqualified, and 30 driving unregistered vehicles, in Geelong and the Surf Coast.
The blitz comes as Victoria’s road toll hit 101, up on 61 the same time last year.
