‘If I punch you will I get arrested?’: Man detained after taunting police

A man who said he wanted to be arrested because he’d never been arrested before has had his wish granted following a drunken incident outside the Criterion Hotel Dalby.

A 32-year-old man who goaded police into arresting him has been hit with a fine in the Dalby Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Rory William Ellis who did not appear in court but sent instructions to plead guilty to failing to leave a premises when asked and failing to follow police directions following an incident on September 28, 2024.

The court was told about 12.40am Ellis was asked to leave the Criterion after becoming too intoxicated and when he refused police were called.

When they arrived they found Ellis outside and asked him to move on at which point he launched into a rant telling police he wanted to be arrested because he had never been arrested before.

Police continued to try to get Ellis to leave with the drunken man asking police “if I punch you will I get arrested?”.

Police then attempted to identify Ellis who gave them a false name and refused to tell them his date of birth.

He was then finally arrested and taken to the police watch house.

Although Ellis did not appear in court he offered his apologies via writing and Magistrate Kathleen Payne said it was clear he was remorseful for his actions.

Ellis who had no prior history was fined $500 and no conviction was recorded.