The 15 police incidents that rocked Ipswich in 2022 revealed
More than 21,000 incidents required a police presence in Ipswich in 2022 and from assault to alleged murder – we look at the most notable cases which rocked the region.
Police & Courts
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From an alleged unborn baby attack, to alleged murder and an NRL star in strife – it was a big year for law enforcement and the courthouses in Ipswich in 2022.
More than 21,000 incidents required a police presence in the region last year with the majority being theft, followed by assault then traffic-related charges.
But as we move into a new year, we take a look back at some of the notable cases which rocked Ipswich in 2022.
POLICE INCIDENTS THAT ROCKED IPSWICH IN 2022
ONGOING MATTERS
ALLEGED UNBORN BABY ATTACK, WULKURAKA
An Ipswich man stands charged with assaulting his pregnant partner – allegedly in an attempt to kill her unborn baby.
Wulkuraka resident Jesse Charles Hallett, 20, was arrested, charged and denied bail in September after he allegedly subjected his on-again-off-again partner to horrid abuse.
Police alleged at the time Mr Hallett wanted the woman to get an abortion and when she refused, he tried to take matters in to his own hands.
The Ipswich Magistrates Court heard Mr Hallett allegedly punched the woman’s pregnant belly, pushed her, and threatened to “blow her head” off with a shotgun.
He was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm, attempted unlawful assault of a pregnant female, written threats to murder, stalking, and the unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
The matter remains before the court.
ALLEGED KNIFE ATTACK, GOODNA
Mother-of-six, Tarelle Bell was charged over allegedly attacking her partner with a knife over a early-morning argument about their child, who was four-months-old at the time.
The court heard alcohol was involved when she allegedly slashed his forearm with the weapon causing a laceration described as being 6cm long and 2cm wide.
Ms Bell faced court in October and was denied bail.
NRL STAR’S STRIFE, EAST IPSWICH
Ex-Parramatta Eels star Chris Sandow was arrested in August after allegedly assaulting two police officers at his East Ipswich home.
Police allege Mr Sandow also dangerously drove on the Ipswich Motorway in July, and “threatened to have police jobs” when they pulled him over.
Mr Sandow was released on bail on December 23 after spending nearly three months in custody on remand.
His former coach John Lang attended court in support of the former Rookie of the Year and celebrated the successful application with Mr Sandow’s mum Rhonda.
Mr Sandow is expected to contest the police assault charges and next scheduled to face court on February 9, 2023.
ALLEGED POLICE STATION ARSON, LOWOOD
The Lowood police station was set alight just before midnight on November 2, causing an estimated $350,000 worth of damage.
The rural station’s three vehicles were destroyed in the blaze and concerns were raised about the station’s ability to continue performing its role in the community.
Police later charged Justin Wayne Adams, 40, with arson, endangering property by fire, breach of bail, possessing drug utensils and urinating in a public place.
MURDER CHARGE, LAIDLEY
Seven co-accused faced court over the gruesome murder of Laidley man, Jamie Barlow, 48, on June 20.
Each were charged with murdering Jamie Barlow, arson and the attempted murder of Mr Barlow’s partner, Stacey Renee Vale.
Those charged were Gabriel Angelo Humberto Jones, 19, Laidley residents Charlotte Laura Barratt, 19, and Talia Healey, 19, and College View resident Braiden Taylor Leslie Harris, 24, a 25-year-old Caboolture man a 19-year-old Ningi man, and a 16-year-old boy.
Their matters are currently still before the court.
SHOPPING CENTRE ASSAULT, BOOVAL
Two teenage girls were charged in July after a chaotic alleged shoplifting spree ending in an assault on a security guard.
The girls allegedly stole rum from a Booval Fair bottle shop and were seen running and screaming through the shopping centre, before being apprehended by security.
Footage of the altercation surfaced on social media shortly after, which showed a shopper tackling one of the girls and pinning her to the ground in a wild citizens arrest.
A police spokeswoman said at the time a 15-year-old girl was charged with two counts of stealing and a 17-year-old girl was charged with the serious assault of a security guard over 60, threatening violence, and stealing.
DRUG SEIZURES, PEAK CROSSING & CAMIRA
Ipswich police arrested four people in Peak Crossing and Camira after allegedly uncovering a huge drug and illegal firearm stash.
Officers allegedly uncovered a range of incriminating items during the August raid, including methamphetamine, cannabis, cannabis plants, a rifle, and a sawn-off shotgun.
Letissa Murphy, 44, and David Dodds, 53, were charged with drug production, drug supply, and weapon possession.
Josiah Murphy, 29, was also charged in relation to the shotgun, receiving tainted property firearm/ammunition and authority to possess explosives.
A 33-year-old man was charged with the unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of dangerous drugs, possessing drug utensils and explosives.
DEADLY CRASH, RACEVIEW
An Ipswich man was charged over the death of his girlfriend in September after an alleged alcohol-fuelled crash.
Bradley Phillip Cutts, 45, of Raceview stands charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while under the influence of liquor or a drug.
Police allege Cutts drunkenly drove into a power pole, flipping the car, before coming to rest in a driveway around 10.30am, September 6.
Cutts suffered serious injuries, while his partner of six years Elizabeth Francis, died at the scene.
The Ipswich Magistrates Court heard in late September that a swath of evidence, including DNA testing and a pathology report, could take up to a year to prepare.
Mr Cutts currently remains in custody on remand.
POLICE CHASE, REDBANK PLAINS
A wild police chase on the Ipswich Motorway in March ended in a dog bite and an electroshock for the offender.
A 42-year-old male was allegedly driving more than 30km over the speed limit and driving dangerously on the wrong side of the road and through red lights.
The man then ditched the car and allegedly threatened officers, forcing them to deploy a taser in order to arrest him.
He was charged with the dangerous operation of a vehicle adversely affected by an intoxicating substance, serious assault police officer while pretending to be armed with a weapon, vehicles used on roads must be registered, drive uninsured vehicle, driving of motor vehicle without a driver‘s licence, using vehicle for which a number plate attached recorded as stolen, false registration plates, obstruct police officer and breach of bail condition.
CONVICTIONS RECORDED
MACHETE V BASEBALL BAT ATTACK, BUNDAMBA
A Bundamba resident, who armed himself with a baseball bat to investigate a disturbance in his yard, was challenged to a “duke out” by his machete wielding neighbour.
The neighbour, Phillip James Shaxson, was drunk and sitting at the end of the other residents driveway.
When he was asked to leave, the two men and a third neighbour started an argument which escalated when Shaxson mentioned the resident’s daughter.
The men allegedly attacked Shaxson, who then returned to his home and retrieved a machete.
Shaxson then yelled “one-on-one” at his neighbour in challenge and charged at him.
He was sentenced to three months imprisonment, immediately suspended for 12 months, for the going armed so as to cause fear charge.
He was further fined $600 for drug offences, and convictions were recorded.
‘DRUG-ADDLED’ STALKING, RACEVIEW
Former Coles-worker Matthew Dean Thomas, 30, was sentenced in an Ipswich court in December after terrorising a 21-year-old woman between June, 2021 and October, 2022.
Thomas claimed to have been sent by ‘divine spirits’ on the many occasions he went to the victims house, even telling police he believed she liked him because she had smiled at him once.
He was sentenced to 57 days imprisonment – with his 57 days in presentence custody declared time served.
He was further sentenced to 18 months probation, and was released from custody that day.
ONE PUNCH ASSAULT, SPRINGFIELD
An alcohol-fuelled assault in the taxi rank of the Orion Hotel in April left the victim with a brain bleed.
Corey Christopher Tonner, 23, had been drinking when he engaged in a verbal altercation with the victim.
He then punched him causing him to fall backward and become unconscious.
The incident did not leave the victim with any permanent damage and Tonner was sentenced to nine months imprisonment – suspended for 12 months.
He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of community service within the next 12 months, and a conviction was recorded.
ANIMAL CRUELTY, ASSAULT, DRUGS, IPSWICH
Duane Andrew Cleary, 35, was sentenced over a number of horrific crimes in July, landing him in prison for two years.
The court heard Clearly assaulted a woman in her home and had “kept (the woman) effectively hostage” between March 7 and 15, while extensively and brutally physically and verbally assaulting her
When the woman’s dog attempted to come to her aid by biting Cleary, he repeatedly punched it in the head.
He pleaded guilty to animal cruelty, assault occasioning bodily harm, wilful damage, possession of dangerous drugs, and possession of drug-related utensils.
CRIME SPREE, IPSWICH
Young Ipswich dad, Kyron Beau Scrivener, pleaded guilty to a long list of charges he racked up on a month-long crime spree in January.
He had been charged with receiving tainted property, stealing, possessing knives, driving without a licence, and using a person’s car without their permission.
The court heard that Scrivener had not been sober since he was nine years old, which was in part, the reason for his offending.
He was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole release, and had his licence disqualified.
NO CONVICTIONS RECORDED
POLICE ASSAULT, KEARNEY’S SPRING
A young Toowoomba woman with big dreams of becoming a jockey was sentenced in an Ipswich court over the assault of two police officers who were attempting to arrest her boyfriend.
The court heard that she attempted to push between the officers and her boyfriend and when she was arrested for obstruction, she struck an officer twice in the chest with her fist.
Jessica May Emmerson, 20, pleaded guilty to two counts of obstructing police, two counts of assaulting police, and one count of wilful damage.
She was released on a $500 recognisance to be of good behaviour for six months and no conviction was recorded.
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