Francesco Joseph Vazquez guilty of harassing a police officer on Facebook

A PTSD-suffering, bikie-supporting, Maltese dog breeder has avoided jail for harassing a police officer – and their family – on social media after a traffic stop.

A police officer became “paranoid” and “intimidated” after being harassed online by a PTSD-suffering, Hells Angels-supporting, Maltese dog breeder, a court has heard.

Francesco Joseph Vazquez, 49, appeared in the District Court of South Australia on Thursday morning charged with using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

The Burton resident pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

The court heard at about 3pm on December 6, 2019 a police officer pulled Vazquez over and he was tested for drugs and alcohol.

Vazquez, who was wearing a “Hells Angels supporter T Shirt”, returned a positive test to drugs and was told not to drive for the next 24 hours.

On Thursday, Judge Geraldine Davison said during the traffic stop the accused made a series of statements to the officer, including one to the effect he should have been on a “no pullover list”.

He also said he had a “high level of competency with martial arts”, was a “lover not a fighter” and he “demonstrated his flexibility”.

“You also had a conversation about star signs,” Judge Davison said.

“It was reported that your mood fluctuated between being jovial and being agitated.”

However, the following day the officer received a Facebook friendship request from the accused, and two notifications on his Facebook Messenger account that he wanted to connect with him.

“In one, you identified his star sign to him, and in the other you said that it was an unlawful stop,” she said.

Vazquez pleaded guilty to harassing a police officer through Facebook. Picture: David Mariuz

After informing his supervisor, the officer blocked Vazquez on Facebook, and changed his profile picture and name.

“On the same day, his sister in law and aunty each received a friend request from you,” she said.

The next day, the officer received notification that Vazquez had shared his updated Facebook profile.

He also sent a message to the officer saying he “loved the name change” and the cop received an incoming call from the accused on his Messenger account.

Vazquez also contacted a friend and colleague of the officer.

The court heard Vazquez had been breeding Maltese dogs during the offending but suffered from PTSD, OCD and a major depressive disorder with severe anxiety.

He originally thought he had “struck up a good relationship with the police officer” and it seemed to be a “friendly and open discussion”.

Francesco Joseph Vazquez received a 18-month good behaviour bond for harassing a police officer. Picture: David Mariuz

However, Judge Davison said the accused now realised the online interactions were “uninvited”.

“Police officers have a right to consider that they will not be contacted by those they have met in a professional capacity as you did here,” she said.

“You’ve crossed the line in relation with your conduct.”

In his victim impact statement, the officer said he was a “resilient” person but the harassment had left him feeling “intimidated and concerned for his safety and those around him” and “quite paranoid”.

The court heard Vazquez had a “lengthy criminal history” dating back to 1987, with charges relating to road traffic matters, hindering police and violence.

Taking into account Vazquez had already served three months in custody, and had been on home detention from March 5, 2020 to April 23 this year, she handed him a conviction and an 18-month good behaviour bond.