Ryan Thomas Clare discharged on numerous charges after dying in custody

A Rockhampton court has heard an unfortunate update in the case of a man accused of a car ramming incident at the Emu Park police station, as well as two alleged sieges involving police.

A man charged with attempted arson in relation to an alleged car ramming incident at the Emu Park police station in January, as well as two alleged sieges involving police, has died in custody.

Ryan Thomas Clare, 43, was charged with numerous offences including attempted arson, unregulated high-risk activities, serious assault of a police officer, enter premises, wilful damage of police property, numerous counts of wilful damage and numerous drug offences.

In Rockhampton Magistrates Court on September 7, police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe told acting magistrate Ron Muirhead that all of the charges could be withdrawn as Mr Clare was deceased.

Solicitor Rebecca Harris confirmed that Mr Clare had passed and Mr Muirhead struck out all of the charges.

No further details about the circumstances of Mr Clare’s death were heard by the court, however it is understood Mr Clare was found dead in his cell at Capricornia Correctional Centre on August 9.

Mr Clare had been remanded in custody after he unsuccessfully applied for bail in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 12.

Police alleged that on January 2 about 3.20pm, a vehicle collided with a parked car at a driveway outside the garage of the Emu Park police station, pushing it through the door and into another car.

Police alleged a vehicle collided with a parked car at a driveway outside the Emu Park police station’s garage, pushing it through the door and into another car. It was alleged the driver exited the vehicle before pouring fuel over one of the cars and lighting a small fire in the grass nearby. Picture: Contributed.

The alleged driver, Mr Clare, allegedly exited the vehicle before pouring fuel over one of the cars and lighting a small fire in the grass nearby.

During the July bail application, defence lawyer Grant Cagney said his client, who had no criminal history, was on bail at the time of the alleged offences at Emu Park and had not applied for bail previously on these charges.

Mr Cagney said his client’s court proceedings were, at the time, suspended.

“The application for the review of a psychiatrist was made by the chief psychiatrist,” he said.

“Those proceedings have now been transferred to the mental health court but the delays that will occasion that will be significant.

“No one can have anything to do with these charges being dealt with until that review in the mental health court takes place.”

During the July bail application, Mr Cagney said his client had been employed as a qualified electrician until his mental health conditions increased about 2017 and he stopped working.

The prosecution had opposed Mr Clare being granted bail.