Alleged Adelaide bus station hijacker, cop attacker Simon Geoffrey Grant Nelson, 28, pleads not guilty to assault charges

It’s alleged this man is responsible for trying to hijack a bus full of travellers and assaulting the SA Police officers who tried to stop him.

The man accused of trying to steal a bus full of passengers in the Adelaide CBD before assaulting four emergency service workers who tried to stop him has denied he’s responsible for the crimes.

Appearing in the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody on Wednesday afternoon, Simon Geoffrey Grant Nelson, 28, pleaded not guilty to four counts of causing harm to an emergency services worker after he allegedly attacked them in October last year.

Emergency services were first called to Franklin St about 5.45am on Saturday October 12 after receiving reports of an intoxicated man displaying “concerning” behaviour.

Mr Nelson was arrested after the alleged incident at Franklin Street Bus Depot. Picture: Supplied

Police at the scene in October. Picture: Supplied

In footage obtained by The Advertiser, a bystander is seen comforting the two injured SAPOL officers.

The bus driver, Tom Christie, said the man stepped onto the bus and sat in the third row among 26 elderly passengers who were set to travel to the Flinders Ranges.

When police arrived on scene, Mr Nelson was allegedly in the driver’s seat and in an agitated state.

Patrols allegedly attempted to coax the unwanted man off the bus, however, when they failed the situation escalated into a physical brawl.

He pleaded not guilty to assaulting emergency service workers. Picture: Supplied

The officers were allegedly assaulted as they tried to remove him from the vehicle. Picture: Supplied

Police said following the alleged incident, two officers were taken to hospital for treatment – one suffered an eye injury and a second suffered a head injury.

In court on Wednesday, Mr Nelson’s lawyer said his client would also plead not guilty at a future hearing to another charge of driving or using a motor vehicle without consent.

He will return to court in August.