Geoffrey Robert Stegman in court for public nuisance, obstructing police

A former cop who falsely demanded a Covid check-in from people at a Bundaberg pub lashed out when police arrived to sort the situation out. Here is what happened.

A court has heard how a former police officer who suffered PTSD after 15 years in the force impersonated a bouncer on a night out and ended up obstructing police who came to help control the situation.

Geoffrey Robert Stegman pleaded guilty to public nuisance in a licensed premises and obstructing police in a licensed premises in Bundaberg Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard Stegman had been drinking at the Melbourne Hotel in Bundaberg on March 26, 2022, when he acted as a bouncer to a group of six men who’d entered the pub, telling them they had to do their Covid check-in.

According to police, Stegman tried to start a fight with the group of men, who asked him to leave them alone.

“It just seems the defendant was out to fight someone,” police prosecutor Tina Bland told the court.

When police attended and told Stegman they would be issuing him with a ticket, he told them to “f--- off and shut up”.

He then ignored their directions and intentionally tensed his arms when officers tried to restrain him, making it difficult for them.

Stegman then kicked the door of the police vehicle, striking an officer on the hand.

“People should be able to go to a hotel and enjoy the comforts of a hotel without being interrupted by someone pretending to be someone they're not,” Snr Const Bland said.

The court heard the defendant had a history involving “alcohol induced antisocial behaviour” and had been before the courts for both public nuisance and obstructing police previously, though convictions were not recorded on those occasions.

Lawyer John Dodd said his client currently worked as a gel blaster store manager and had previously been a private detective after spending 15 years in the police force before leaving in 2002, suffering with PTSD.

“Unfortunately, the job (police officer) he couldn’t handle it anymore,” Mr Dodd told the court.

“As your honour can well imagine, seeing dead bodies, seeing the worst of society, it just got too much for him and he had to leave in 2002 with post traumatic stress.”

Mr Dodd said the argument with police broke out on that night at the Melbourne Hotel because his client had been debating whether he’d been told to leave.

“He went overboard your honour,” he said.

Magistrate John McInnes told the court Stegman had a “reduced level of moral culpability” because of his career in the police force, and that while it was his choice to drink, it wasn’t his choice to be negatively impacted by the nature of his job.

Stegman was fined $500, referred to SPER.

No conviction was recorded.