Sean Scott Francis Ferris, 52, identified at the attacker who was shot dead after he stabbed police

The man who stabbed two officers and was then shot dead by police in a small town in SA’s Mid North has been identified – and he has a history of conflict with police.

Sean Scott Francis Ferris has been identified as the man shot dead after stabbing two police officers in Crystal Brook, a small country town about 200km from Adelaide.

Ferris had a history of conflict with police, The Advertiser can reveal.

The 52-year-old was arrested on November 1, 2021 for refusing to wear a mask during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. He would later claim to have had an exemption but eventually pleaded guilty to the charge.

On the same date and at Crystal Brook, Ferris was arrested for assault and disorderly behaviour.

Four days later, on November 5, 2021, he was charged with hindering police.

Sean Ferris was shot and killed by police after attacking two officers with a knife, leaving them with frightening inuries. Picture: Facebook

An object believed to be the knife Ferris used to attack the officers.

Ferris continued through the courts for more than six months before police prosecutors dropped the assault charge and Ferris pleaded guilty to breaching Covid restrictions, disorderly behaviour and hinder police.

He was ordered to pay costs and had no further penalty imposed after the magistrate took into account the time he had spent in custody following his arrest.

Ferris had visited the local shops and seemed calm and “happy” before the incident unfolded according to witnesses.

It is understood the officers were attending the house over complaints about the occupant’s dog, a husky, that had been ongoing.

The two SA Police officers – Brevet Sergeant Ian Todd, 53, the officer in charge of Port Germein, sustained life-threatening critical injuries after being stabbed in the neck, arm and hands.

Brevet Sergeant Jordan Allely, 32, officer in charge of Crystal Brook, suffered stab wounds to his right leg and arm in the attack on Symons St, at Crystal Brook, about 10.15am on Wednesday.

Ferris was then shot by police and died at the scene.

A worker at the Crystal Brook pub said Ferris “seemed like a nice fella” when he first met the man.

“We had a karaoke night and he took the crowd away with how he sang,” the worker said.

But things then took a turn for Mr Ferris, who is believed to have lived on his own, as his attitude changed, the worker said.

“He had a dog he used to intimidate people.”

Two SA Police officers have been rushed to hospital and their attacker shot dead. Picture: 7 NEWS

Both have been flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital in a serious but stable condition and have been placed in induced comas.

Ferris’s death will be investigated by Major Crime detectives.

It is the second such tragedy for the police force who in December 2022 lost two officers at a shoot out in a property at Wieambilla, south of Chinchilla in Queensland.

Police shot the three attackers dead during that ambush.

The killers – one a respected school principal – who executed two police officers and their innocent neighbour in the bloody ambush were driven by bizarre conspiracy theories and had written anti-vaccination posts online.

Symons Street has been closed off with several police vehicles. Picture: Isaac Selby

THE MOMENTS BEFORE THE ATTACK

A Crystal Brook shop worker called Chloe said she had just served the offender before the incident unfolded.

“I served him probably just over half an hour before the incident took place … I’m in shock,” she told FIVEaa.

“It was just a normal interaction with him. He has come in the past a few times a bit on edge after a few incidents with his dog but this was just a normal morning and he seemed very happy and we were just chatting about the rain and how it takes him so long to dry his dog because of how big he is.

“Not long after we found out there was a siege down the street where he lived.”

“It was pretty scary and hard to hear – these things don’t happen in your small country town very often. We serve him daily, it’s not nice to hear.”