Renmark 37-year-old Celeste Lockwood last week filmed herself questioning the need to wear a mask inside a Victorian petrol station, before leading police on a chase from Yamba Station after crossing into South Australia. PHOTO: Facebook
A RIVERLAND woman who attempted to avoid police when travelling into South Australia from Victoria also refused to wear a mask – due to her suspicions surrounding Covid-19 “propaganda” – inside a petrol station last week.
It is alleged patrols at the Sturt Highway checkpoint, at Yamba Station, attempted to stop a Nissan sedan as it approached from Victoria around 4.12pm on Wednesday, June 2.
The car stopped for several minutes while police spoke to the driver – 37-year-old Renmark woman Celeste Lockwood – before she attempted to flee the scene.
Police pursued and eventually used road spikes to stop Ms Lockwood’s vehicle on Stanitzki Road, close to Bookpurnong Road.
Ms Lockwood was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated dangerous driving to escape police pursuit, driving disqualified, and failing to comply with direction under the Emergency Management Act.
In a live Facebook video posted before the incident, Ms Lockwood questioned the need to wear a facemask inside a Victorian On The Run outlet.
“They’re getting away with these Covid marshals making people feel like they have to do these government regulations, which are actually just propaganda,” she said.
“There’s no law saying you must ask customers to wear a mask as they walk in the door… (they) could not provide me with a contract saying why they are scaring people out of the shop.
“You don’t have to wear a mask, you just have to be willing to stand up for your rights.
“If they try to stop me at the border I’ll be saying the same thing.”
It is understood Ms Lockwood was refused bail and appeared in the Berri Magistrates Court last Thursday.
