Whitsunday man charged with attempted murder after four-day siege
A man who allegedly shot arrows at police during a four-day stand-off at a Whitsunday unit complex has been charged with six counts of attempted murder and damaging police cars.
Detectives have charged a Jubilee Pocket man with six counts of attempted murder after a four-day siege in the Whitsundays.
Police declared an emergency declaration under the Public Safety Preservation Act on Thursday after attending a Erromango Drive home about 2pm to conduct a welfare check.
Police allege a 44-year-old man barricaded himself inside, while armed with a compound bow.
Police will allege he shot numerous arrows at police officers, who had to take evasive action, while they negotiated with the man for four days.
The officers will allege some of the arrows caused damage to police vehicles.
The man was taken into custody about 7.30am on Monday and the emergency declaration revoked.
No one was injured during the incident.
The man has been charged with six counts of attempted murder and two counts of wilful damage of police property.
He is expected to appear before Bowen Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Man found ‘exhausted’ inside unit after firing arrows at police in siege
A man who held police at bay outside a Whitsunday unit complex for more than four days was found “fatigued and exhausted” inside the property.
The 44-year-old man was wearing body armour and armed with a compound bow and edged weapons during the siege that began about 11.45am on Thursday when he barricaded himself inside.
It is understood he made threats and triggered a large police response with more than 30 officers initially converging on the property at Erromango Dr.
A police spokesman said the siege had resolved at about 7am on Monday.
Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt said the police moved in on concerns for the man’s safety.
“We developed concerns for his safety as he was not moving and he was not responding to any stimuli,” he said.
“We entered the property and we safely took him into custody.
“We found that he was fatigued and exhausted to the point where he was no longer able to move and function.”
Acting Superintendent Armitt said the man would soon undergo a mental health assessment.
“We are looking at and considering charges in relation to this matter, but first and foremost he will be looked at as far as his mental health is concerned,” he said.
The man refused to negotiate with police who remained on scene daily in attempts to resolve the situation.
Acting Superintendent Armitt confirmed the man did not engage verbally with the police.
“The male refused to engage with negotiators during the entire incident,” he said.
The man fired between 10 and 20 arrows directed at the police over the weekend.
No arrows hit the police and no injuries were recorded during the incident.
Acting Superintendent Armitt said the incident started when the police were called to help a specialist mental health team seeking to take the man to hospital.
“On arrival, he immediately barricaded himself and that is when the incident commenced.”
Heavily armed Special Emergency Response Team officers were among those initially sent to the area late Thursday.
An exclusion zone was put in place about 4pm Thursday, with nearby properties evacuated as police negotiations continued.
Acting Superintendent Armitt said significant police resources were committed to the incident.
“We relied a lot on our local staffing,” he said, adding the Townsville Police District and state negotiators had helped out.
The area is an ongoing crime scene but it is expected to be opened up to the public within a couple of hours.
