The “trolley man” who confronted the Bourke Street terrorist last week is keen to “do the right thing” and cooperate with police, who want to question him over recent burglaries, a charity worker says.
Michael Rogers drew widespread praise for pushing a shopping trolley repeatedly at Hassan Khalif Shire Ali as he attempted to stab police last Friday.
He was filmed using the trolley to try to prevent Shire Ali from continuing his attack, which claimed the life of popular restaurateur Sisto Malaspina.
Shire Ali stabbed three men — fatally wounding Mr Malaspina — before he was fatally shot in the chest by police.
An online fundraising campaign for the “trolley man” raised $140,000 to support him. But Victoria Police revealed last night they wanted to speak with the 46-year-old over recent burglaries in the Melbourne CBD and St Kilda areas, and breaching bail conditions.
‘I want to live a good life’
Melbourne woman Donna Stolzenberg — who set up the fundraiser for Mr Rogers — said she was with him last night after he learnt through the media that police were keen to speak with him.
“Michael attempted to call the police three times and left his name, left his number, waited for someone to call him back to see what he needed to do because he wanted to follow procedures, do the right thing,” said
Ms Stolzenberg, who manages not-for-profit organisation National Homeless Collective.
“Nobody called him back, and I was with him until after 11:00pm.
“He was very calm about it.
“He just said, ‘Whatever’s happened in the past, I want to do the right thing’, and he was quite prepared to speak to the police.
“In his words, ‘I want to live a good life’, and he fully intended to own up to any charges or offences that might have happened. He certainly wasn’t making excuses or running.
“We have to remember these were things that happened prior to Friday as well.
“He actually doesn’t really know what they are, so when I asked him about what they might be he said ‘I don’t know’ … but he’s quite keen to speak to police to actually figure out what’s going on and get it sorted.
“He’s still the same person as before last night’s newsbreak.”
On Monday, Mr Rogers told 7.30 he felt other people were more deserving of “hero” status than him.
“I’m not saying what I did wasn’t good, but you know, you’ve got the police, you’ve got the army, you’ve got the ambulance — you’ve got better heroes than me,” he said.
“I’m grateful, but I’m not in the same league as others.”
Earlier this week, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told ABC Radio Melbourne he understood that Mr Rogers had intervened “instinctively”, but warned that in general, the public should stand back when police were responding to a situation.
Mr Rogers said on the weekend he was “no hero” and was simply trying to help when he thrust the trolley at Shire Ali.
