US baseballer Tim William Cusick denied bail after allegedly carjacking motorist to ‘escape pursuers’ after drinking whiskey, taking LSD
An American baseballer drank whiskey, used LSD and then carjacked an Adelaide motorist so he could get to the airport and escape men he believed were chasing him, a court has heard.
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An American baseballer drank whiskey, used LSD and then carjacked an Adelaide motorist so he could get to the airport and escape men he believed were chasing him, a court has heard.
On Thursday, counsel for Timothy William Cusick conceded their client’s alleged behaviour was “somewhat bizarre” and asked he be immediately released on bail.
Sergeant Cara Bailey, prosecuting, said Cusick’s behaviour on March 20 was not just odd, it too criminally serious to warrant his release.
“This was a random attack (in which) he opened a car’s rear door, jumped in, climbed over toward the driver’s seat and kicked, punched and pushed that person out,” she said.
“The victim fell on to the road, and the car was later located having been crashed into a tree.
“Given the significant level of violence used, this man poses a high risk to the community.”
Cusick, 28, of San Francisco, has yet to plead to charges of aggravated robbery and driving at a speed or in a manner dangerous to the public.
On Thursday, Sgt Bailey said the charges stemmed from an incident that occurred at 1.49am but, according to Cusick’s “admissions” to police, began in a bar hours earlier.
“He stated that, at about 11pm, he had met a girl at Bank St Social, drank two shots of whiskey and had some LSD,” she said.
“He consumed one more drink of mixed spirits at her CBD home and left about 12.30pm to find a taxi home, when he ran into a man whom he described as ‘needing help’.”
She said that, after speaking to both the man and his friends over the phone, Cusick became convinced the group was “after him” and he was being “chased”.
“He told police he punched that man in the face and ran away, which is when he took the vehicle,” she said.
“He said he needed to get away, was frantic and believed his life was in danger, and was attempting to reach the airport to board a plane to the US.”
Joseph Henderson, for Busick, said his client had been invited to Adelaide by the Henley and Grange Baseball Club, and was on a three-month visa.
“He’s an accomplished and passionate baseball player, and this is somewhat bizarre offending in bizarre circumstances,” he said.
“He was behaving in an entirely erratic and out-of-character manner.”
He asked Cusick be released on bail, offering a guarantor, cash surety and to surrender his client’s passport.
Magistrate Elizabeth Sheppard was not swayed, saying the safety of the community must be prioritised.
She remanded him in custody to face court again in June.
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