EXCLUSIVE: High jump record holder, 19, ‘leaped over a two-metre fence and swam across the Parramatta River’ to evade police after they ‘found drugs on him at FOMO music festival’
- Frederick Solo, 19, was allegedly caught with drugs at FOMO Festival in Sydney
- Solo allegedly jumped a two-metre fence and swam in a river to try evade police
- Rugby league star was eventually caught and charged over attempted escape
- At the same music festival, Alex Ross-King died of a suspected MDMA overdose
A junior athlete has allegedly gone to desperate lengths to evade police after he was caught in possession of drugs at a popular music festival.
Frederick Solo, 19, was allegedly found with a small quantity of white powder as he entered the FOMO Festival at Parramatta, in Sydney’s west, at 4.45pm on January 12.
But as Solo was led away to be searched by police he allegedly ran and jumped over a two-metre high fence, before trying to swim across the Parramatta River to escape.
Despite the talented rugby league player’s best efforts police caught him stranded in the middle of the river, before he made his way to the bank where he was arrested.
Frederick Solo (left) allegedly jumped a two-metre fence and swam into the Parramatta River after being caught with drugs at the FOMO Music Festival, in Sydney, earlier this month
A star athlete and rugby league player, Solo, 19, was charged with escape police custody after his desperate effort to evade officers failed. He was also charged with possess prohibited drug
Following his arrest, Solo was charged with one count of possess a prohibited drug, as well as a single count of escape police custody.
After almost two weeks in custody following his festival arrest, Solo appeared in the Parramatta Local Court on Friday.
During a brief appearance via video link, the teenager’s barrister Stephen Molly said the teenager admitted he had a drug problem.
‘He acknowledges he’s got a drug problem and wants to do something about it,’ Mr Molloy told the court.
‘He’s got a forklift certificate, he’s involved in sport and plays rugby league. He wants to get his life back on track.’
The court also heard Solo was on parole at the time of his alleged festival offence.
While the prosecution claimed their case against Solo was ‘pretty strong’, Magistrate Peter Feather said he believed the teen would likely avoid jail.
‘Objectively it’s not most serious offence and he was found in possession of a small quantity of a prohibited drug,’ Magistrate Feather said.
While some revellers (pictured) enjoyed their day at the FOMO Festival in early January, police arrested 36 people during their operation (It is not suggested anyone pictured was involved in illegal activity)
A heavy security and police presence at the entrance to the festival led to Solo and 35 other relevellers being caught with drugs
Five young people have died at music festivals across NSW since September, including two at the Defqon1 festival (pictured)
‘We’re talking about him being a music festival he’s got a small quantity of drugs on him and he’s tried to escape police custody and was found in the Parramatta River.’
Magistrate Feather granted Solo bail under strict conditions, including that he moves back in with his mother, reports to police daily and forfeits a $2,500 surety.
Solo was a record-breaking high jumper as a 15-year-old, while he also led his school Chifley College to victory in the NSW Buckley Shield in 2013.
At the same festival where Solo was caught with a small quantity of drugs, Alex Ross-King, 19, died after a suspected overdose on MDMA.
Ms Ross-King, who according to her friends was not a regular drug user, was the fifth reveller to die of a suspected drug overdose at festivals in NSW since September.
The festival was marred by the tragic death of Alex Ross-King (pictured), who died following a suspected MDMA overdose