A 16-year-old female has been arrested by off duty officers from Strike Force Viper in relation to a serious assault of a woman in Alice Springs yesterday morning.

Around 6am it is alleged the 16-year-old female and a 41-year-old woman became involved in a verbal altercation near the Bath Street Taxi rank.

The youth is alleged to have grabbed the woman by the hair before she began physically assaulting her, causing the woman to fall to the ground. The youth continue the attack on the woman when two off-duty officers driving home after night shift drove by and witnessed the incident.

Members came to the victim’s aid and arrested the youth at the scene.

The woman suffered facial injuries and significant hair loss from the assault and was taken to the Alice Springs Hospital for treatment.

The youth was taken to the Alice Springs Watch House where she was charged with one count of Recklessly endangering serious harm.

The youth will also face one count of Obtain benefit by deception in relation to a separate incident in which she was found in possession of using a stolen bank card.

The youth was remanded into custody to appear before court today.