Brett Andrew Rankin on probation over police officer attack

A Gladstone man smeared his blood on the outside of a police car after hitting an officer five times with a door and threatening to shoot.

Brett Andrew Rankin, 42, pleaded guilty to assault police and wilful damage in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday.

A man threatened to shoot a police officer who was trying to help him before assaulting him with a door, a court heard.

Brett Andrew Rankin, 42, pleaded guilty in the Gladstone Magistrates Court on Friday to assaulting police and wilful damage.

On December 9, 2020, around 10.30am, police attended Rankin’s address to return him to hospital.

When police arrived Rankin was inside and refused to open the door for police, who negotiated with him for 20 minutes.

After eventually entering Rankin’s residence, he reacted wildly and rushed a police officer with raised open hands.

Rankin grabbed a door and swung it, hitting the officer five times and stating he would shoot him.

The officer then moved away and Rankin attempted to strike him with his raised open hand, before he was pushed to the chest and fell over backwards.

Rankin was then taken into police custody and transported to Gladstone Base Hospital.

Before entering the police car, Rankin smeared his blood on its exterior before continuing to wipe his bloody face throughout the police car on the way to hospital.

When police arrived at Gladstone Base Hospital, Rankin told them he had urinated himself, however, police did not find any.

Magistrate Bevan Manthey convicted and sentenced Rankin to 12 months probation. Convictions were recorded.