A woman faces an assault charge for allegedly spitting in a shop worker’s face on Friday and a 17-year-old girl has been charged with physically assaulting the same worker, while the employee in turn is being investigated over her use of OC spray, including spraying it into a vehicle carrying the alleged offenders while two young children were sitting inside, with police not disclosing the children’s ages.

Police director of communications Mark Wilton said police had reviewed CCTV footage and interviewed witnesses and believed that about 10:45am on Friday, a vehicle containing four adults, a 17-year-old girl, and two children had turned up at the Moulden shops.

He said a 34-year-old woman was asked to leave by a female staff member after verbally abusing staff and throwing items around the store.

“Upon being told to leave by a female staff member, the female allegedly spat in the staff member’s face twice,” Mr Wilton said.

“A 17-year-old youth has allegedly physically assaulted the employee before the 34-year-old re-entered the store and continued throwing items.

“The 17-year-old allegedly armed herself with a spearhead before returning to the vehicle.

“The employee armed themselves with legally purchased OC spray before deploying the spray at the 34-year-old and continuing to deploy it at the vehicle before retreating back inside the business.”

In a press release on Sunday, police had not mentioned the 17-year-old, and had said the employee approached the vehicle and sprayed the woman through the driver’s side window.

Mr Wilton said that initial information was inaccurate and police believe the employee was at the entrance of the business when objects were being thrown in their direction and she began spraying the alleged offender at that point.

“It is believed OC spray was only directed at 34-year-old, however, all those in vehicle (including children) are believed to have experienced its effects,” Mr Wilton said.

Mr Wilton said the 34-year-old went to Palmerston Police Station about 11:05am and reported that she and her young child were suffering from the effects of OC spray.

Police would not say how old the children affected by OC spray were.

Mr Wilton said the 34-year-old was issued a Notice to Appear for assaulting a worker, driving an unregistered vehicle, having a child not properly restrained and disorderly behaviour in a public place, and is due to appear in Darwin Local Court on November 18.

The 17-year-old has been charged with assaulting a worker, going armed in public and being armed with an offensive weapon and will be dealt with under the provisions of the Youth Justice Act 2005.

“Investigations into the incident, including the deployment of the OC spray, remain ongoing with further CCTV to be reviewed and witness statements taken,” Mr Wilton said.

Police did not respond to a request to release CCTV footage of the moment the woman began using the OC spray.

OC spray was given an exemption from the Weapons Control Act under Government Gazette No. S49, as part of a trial allowing the public to use it for self-defence.

The exemption says it can be used if a person believes it is necessary to defend themselves or another person, to prevent or terminate the unlawful imprisonment of the person or another person, to protect property from unlawful appropriation, destruction, damage or interference, to prevent criminal trespass to any land or premises, or to remove from any land or premises a person who is committing criminal trespass.

A person can also use it in self-defence if it is “a reasonable response in the circumstances as the person perceives them”.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 131 444 or make an anonymous report to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.