Ingham court: David McDonald admits to threatening police with knife

A man claiming to be a combat fighter who threatened police officers with a knife during a protracted emergency has narrowly avoided being sent to Townsville Correctional Centre.

David William McDonald, 38, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday to one count of obstructing police and two counts of serious obstruction while armed with a weapon during the ugly incident at a home on Halifax Road in Foresthome about midnight on March 15. Picture: Cameron Bates

A man claiming to be a combat fighter who threatened police officers with a knife during a protracted emergency has avoided being sent to Townsville Correctional Centre by the narrowest of margins.

David William McDonald, 38, pleaded guilty in the Ingham Magistrates Court on Thursday to one count of obstructing police and two counts of serious obstruction while armed with a weapon during the ugly incident at a home on Halifax Road in Foresthome about midnight on March 15.

Prosecutor Ash Raj said police were called to the house after another resident suffered a serious mental-health episode and contacted cops for help.

He said that during the police call-out McDonald became agitated and verbally threatening after noticing his bedroom had been trashed by the mentally unwell man, and blamed the responding police officers.

“He was heard to scream out, ‘what the f--- did you make him do to my room c---s, I’m coming down to you c---s now.”

McDonald outside the Ingham Magistrates Court. Picture: Cameron Bates

Mr Raj said after additional, similar threats the police retreated to the end of the driveway.

“Police have walked backwards, attempting to create distance between themselves and the defendant … who has a small knife in one hand, he had it down by his side, tensing himself, becoming increasingly agitated.”

He said when told that police reinforcements were on the way, the defendant said, “good, you will be needing them”.

Mr Raj said that prior to a third resident intervening and helping diffuse the situation, McDonald had threatened a third police officer with a water bottle, resulting in the third charge.

“The defendant then made further threats to police that he would break their jaw, that he was a disbarred MMA fighter and that he would grab knives and come at police for arresting him in his own home.”

The police prosecutor urged a suspended term of imprisonment, a recommendation that Magistrate Cathy McLennan said did not go far enough, asking to see police video footage of the incident.

Defence Lawyer Margaret Crowther agreed with Mr Raj, urging a suspended jail term.

Magistrate McLennan again disagreed, saying “this is a very serious offence”.

“Pulling a knife on the police is something that you don’t need to be on a suspended sentence to understand there would be a very serious penalty, even for somebody who hasn’t previously committed an offence,” she said.

“In your case, you have previously committed multiple offences; breaking and entering of property, drug offences, there’s a previous conviction for assault or obstruct police, there’s a few public nuisances and there’s a significant history of (other crimes).”

Magistrate McLennan also noted that the incident was not spur of the moment and was protracted, indicating a degree of premeditation.

McDonald was jailed for a cumulative total of six months, with immediate parole.

“Don’t misunderstand,” Magistrate McLennan told the defendant, “I’ve given you actual jail, you only get to do that in the community as long as you are complying with the terms of your parole … if you do not comply you’ll be straight into the Townsville Correctional Centre.”

Originally published as Ingham court: David McDonald admits to threatening police with knife