Darren Joseph Collins released after biting police officer in violent arrest

A Mackay man who bit a police officer in the knee after being heavily sedated during a bloodied arrest has been told to “grow up” by a magistrate.

Darren Joseph Collins pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court to one count of obstructing a police officer, one count of unlawfully entering a truck without permissions of the owner and assaulting a police officer.

A Mackay father who bit an officer during a bloodied arrest after he was seen trying to break into a truck has been told to “see a doctor” on his way out of custody.

Darren Joseph Collins appeared in the Mackay magistrates court via video link pleading guilty to one count of obstructing a police officer, one count of unlawfully entering a truck without permissions of the owner and assaulting a police officer outside his Cremorne property in Mackay.

The court heard that at around 10.30am on April 29, Mr Collins tried to break into Lep Laa’s company truck while he was inside.

After several attempts to open the door, Mr Collins was seen slicing his wrist with a knife and smearing the blood over the truck’s window seal in another attempt to break in.

Mr Collin’s lawyer Aaron Sellentin told the court that “he attempted self harm”.

The court heard that multiple emergency crews arrived on scene trying to restrain Mr Collins who was seen ignoring a number of commands including orders to get on the ground.

Mr Collins was physically restrained and taken to the ground after he resisted officers’ attempts to apply handcuffs on him.

At this moment, Queensland Ambulance arrived on scene to sedate Mr Collins which would take ten minutes to kick in.

While officers were grappling with the Mackay man, Mr Collins lunged forward and bit a police officer on the knee though it did not “penetrate skin or clothing”.

The court heard that Mr Collins had previously been involved in a serious assault of a person over 60-years-old in January but had otherwise no recent convictions of assault.

The Mackay man received a jail term, but with immediate parole release after he repeatedly slammed a man with a car door in an ongoing dispute in August last year.

In his sentencing remarks, Magistrate Damien Dwyer took into account the 57 days already served prior to the hearing, allowing him to walk free on Tuesday, June 24.

“He’s probably served enough time and he should declare the time served for the conviction,” he said.

“You need to go to the doctor when you get back, do you understand that?

“You’re going to go home to dad today, they’re not going to put up with this rubbish for too long.

“Time to grow up young fella.”

Mr Collins was convicted on all counts.

Originally published as Darren Joseph Collins released after biting police officer in violent arrest