Jesse David Anderson in court for driving offence, violence threat

A dad was dramatically arrested at a Maryborough playground after driving carelessly and then threatening a police officer during a road rage incident.

Jesse David Anderson pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention, threatening violence and obstructing police.

A Fraser Coast father who had his daughter in the car when he drove carelessly and then threatened a police officer has been fined, disqualified from driving and placed on 12 months probation.

Jesse David Anderson pleaded guilty in Maryborough Magistrate’s Court to driving without due care or attention, threatening violence and obstructing police.

Police prosecutor Rob Booth said that on April 14, 2023, about 5.30pm, Anderson was driving a vehicle with his daughter in the car.

He was seen turning left on Lennox St, Maryborough, leaving Station Square Shopping Centre.

He drove past the police station, past an officer who was leaving the station in an unmarked police vehicle.

That police officer was then driving behind Anderson and saw him stop at a red light at Lennox and Kent St, the court heard.

While waiting for the lights to turn green, Anderson revved his vehicle loudly, Snr Const Booth said.

MORE NEWS: Fraser Coast development company goes into liquidation

An orange vehicle was trying to drive straight through the intersection in the right-hand lane, he said. Anderson’s vehicle was in the left lane.

He accelerated rapidly and overtook the orange vehicle, which had to brake to accommodate another small vehicle so Anderson could merge into the single lane.

Anderson crossed a solid white line and continued accelerating, merging in front of a silver vehicle.

He continued driving on Lennox St until coming to a red light at the intersection at Walker St.

Snr Const Booth said Anderson drove over the stop line until all four wheels were across it.

A red Mustang was seen on the opposite side of the intersection with no indicators on, intending to drive along Lennox St.

Anderson accelerated rapidly, turned right in front of the Mustang and cut it off at the intersection, the court heard.

The police officer turned into Walker St behind Anderson.

Anderson did a U-turn and pulled up next to a park opposite the Brolga Theatre.

The officer also did a U-turn and pulled up near Anderson’s vehicle.

The court was told Anderson got out of his car, held his middle finger out towards the officer and said “f--k you, f--k you”.

He then pulled a 40cm “billy club” out of his car, with the words pressure checker written on it.

Jesse David Anderson pleaded guilty to driving without due care or attention, threatening violence and obstructing police.

Anderson raised it and began moving in the direction of the officer, which caused the officer to fear harm.

The officer drove away from Anderson and made a call for more police units to assist.

He was then observed putting the gauge back in his vehicle and taking his daughter to the playground.

More police arrived and spoke with Anderson at the playground.

Anderson claimed a vehicle was “riding up my a--e”.

He became argumentative and heightened, then walked away from police, the court heard.

Anderson was told he was under arrest and to put his hands towards his back.

When one of the officers tried to apply handcuffs, Anderson resisted, struggling violently.

He continued to resist when he was on ground, with one of the officers sustaining a small laceration to his hand during the struggle.

Later police reviewed Fraser Coast Regional Council CCTV footage and dashcam footage in regard to the tailgating allegation made by Anderson.

MORE NEWS: Kode Ink’s Jess Stocks voted Fraser Coast’s Best Tattoo Artist

It was seen that at no point was he the victim of any dangerous tailgating.

Duty lawyer Morgan Harris said at the time of the offending he was in a negative mental health space, having lost almost all close family members in the past 10 years.

Anderson had a supportive partner with whom he shared his young daughter, Mr Harris said.

At the time of the incident, Anderson had been involved in an incident in which he had been tailgated by another car while coming out of a parking space at Station Square Shopping Centre, and when he was pulled over, he thought it was the person from Station Square.

Character references were submitted to the court.

Anderson was disqualified from driving for three months and fined $850.

He was also sentenced to 12 months' probation.

Convictions were recorded.