A shocking incident that saw three Aboriginal children allegedly cable tied by a tradie for swimming in a property’s pool has resulted in a heartwarming twist.
The incident in Broome, Western Australia garnered national attention after footage posted to Facebook on Tuesday showed three young children restrained on the driveway as a burly tradie refused to let them leave.
Officers were initially called to the home over reports of trespassing but ended up charging 45-year-old tradesman Mat Radelic with three counts of aggravated assault.
A Melbourne-based business has since launched a fundraising effort to buy a pool for the family, with nearly $5000 raised according to a social media post.
A screenshot posted by Dreamtime Aroha showed a purchase order for a $699 pool set from Big W plus some inflatable toys, with the total including delivery coming to $1474.
“All further donations ($4930 so far) going directly to the Jarjums (allegedly) held against their will be a ‘tradie’ visiting an empty residence in Broome,” the page wrote.
Dreamtime Aroha describes itself as a “small proud female led Blak business in Meanjin”, also known as Brisbane.
The Big W pool order indicated it would be delivered to Asharahni Lilwayno, the relative who live-streamed on Facebook the moment she confronted the tradie after discovering the children tied up outside the home near Cable Beach.
“I went live on Facebook and recorded the man, and we were telling the man to cut the cable ties off their wrist and just wait for the police… but he just didn’t want them to let go,” Ms Lilwayno told The West Australian.
She said she took a photo of the three bound children before one freed himself and she was removed from the property.
“When we pulled up there, and when that man was pushing me out of the gate… the little [eight-year-old] boy snapped the cable ties with his hands and then he just jumped over the fence and ran down the road.”
“It was just upsetting, we were so angry with him just shouting at him, telling him to let them go but he just didn’t want to listen to us.”
“When we tried to walk in there to get them he pushed me and my mum out of the yard.”
“He just kept saying, ‘I’m waiting for the police… I’m waiting for the police’.”
Local Leandra McKenzie said the tradie had arrived at the property for a job and found three kids in his client’s pool.
“They were frightened, they were crying, shaking and singing out for their mum,” McKenzie told 9News.
Paramedics conducted a health check on the children, who have since been reunited with their family.
In the live video streamed to Facebook one woman can be heard begging with the tradie to release the children.
“What if someone tied your kids up like that?” she can be heard screaming.
Police labelled the incident “confronting” and confirmed an investigation was underway.
“The man, from Broome, was taken into custody, interviewed over the matter and charged,” WA Police said.
“It is alleged the force used to restrain the children was not proportionate in the circumstances.”
The accused, a Kimberley tradie, was granted bail and is expected to appear in court at a later date.
Police have urged the community to co-operate with the ongoing investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
The video continues to do the rounds on social media, sparking community furore.
Reacting to the incident, Kimberley MP Divina D’Anna called for calm and restraint pending the outcome of the police inquiry.
She described the footage to ABC Kimberly as “disturbing and confronting”, but emphasised the importance of allowing law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation.
The incident comes amid heightened community concerns over youth crime in the Kimberley region.
While residents have reported instances of “out of control” youth crime in Broome, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch late last year downplayed suggestions of a crisis, noting that the disruptive behaviour is attributed to a small number of individuals.
Extra police have been deployed to Broome following the “confronting” incident, The West Australian reported on Thursday.
In a message on Facebook, the Kimberley region’s top cop posted a message thanking the community for “remaining calm in the wake of the incident” which he acknowledged had “caused significant community concern and discussion”.
“My officers – who both work and live in this amazing location – enjoy a positive relationship with the community they serve, and I’m confident that will continue,” Superintendent Steve Thompson wrote.