Some of Central Qld’s worst crimes against police 2024
From being punched in the face to spat on, here are some recent cases which highlight the shocking treatment our police officers endure while working on the front line.
Police & Courts
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Recent cases in Central Queensland courts have highlighted some of the shocking treatment our police officers cop as they go about their daily duties.
Here are some of the offenders who faced magistrates to get their punishment for what they did to our law enforcers on the front line.
Conviction recorded
Clifton Graham Saltner, 52
Punched a senior constable to the ear and then in the face
A Central Queensland Centrelink building was forced into lockdown after Saltner threatened to bash a manager’s head in during an angry rage.
Saltner was at the Services Australia complex on Yeppoon’s Arthur Street helping a friend with a matter when he became unhappy about the support being offered.
He became aggressive towards a manager, swore at them and called them a “c***sucker” before saying “Do your f***ing job or I’ll bash your head in.”
After police arrived they tried to handcuff Saltner, but he broke free and punched a senior constable to the ear and then in the face.
Saltner, 52, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court to charges including obstructing police and assaulting police.
He was placed on 18 months’ probation and ordered to pay $500 compensation to the assaulted police officer.
Convictions were recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
Catherine Rosemary Ward, 39
‘Clawed’ at female cop’s face, spat in her eye
Police went to a Clinton house looking for a wanted person believed to be inside but they were not there to see Ward.
Ward then tried to close the door on police.
“And then (she’s) clawed at (a female constable’s) face and thrown a punch, causing (the officer’s) nose to bleed,” police prosecutor Sergeant Merrilyn Hoskins told Gladstone Magistrates Court.
“And she spat in the (police officer’s) eye.”
Ward pleaded guilty to obstructing police and assaulting police.
She was placed on 18 months’ probation, ordered to pay $700 compensation to the police officer, and a conviction was recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
Taylah Le Masso, 31
Spat in police officer’s face
Masso spat “a mouthful of saliva and spittle” directly in the face of a senior constable, Gladstone Magistrates Court heard.
The 31-year-old pleaded guilty to charges including seriously assaulting police by biting or spitting.
Masso was sentenced to 15 months’ jail with a parole release date of May 24, 2024.
Convictions were recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
Shane Dallas Jackson, 47
Wiped bodily fluid onto police officer’s arm
Jackson wiped bodily fluid from his face onto a police officer’s arm during an incident in the Gladstone region.
He pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to numerous charges including two counts of seriously assaulting police, and one count each of seriously assaulting a public officer, obstructing police, consuming liquor on a road, failing to provide a specimen of breath, and public nuisance.
The court heard this latest offending happened while Jackson was on a suspended sentence for serious assault of a police officer.
Magistrate Mary Buchanan activated the suspended sentence in full and sentenced Jackson to eight months’ jail with parole release fixed at January 13, 2025.
Ms Buchanan also ordered Jackson perform 160 hours of unpaid community service and she disqualified him from driving for seven months.
Convictions were recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
Tyson Zacharie Borg, 24
Kneed a female cop in the chest at a pub
Borg was at the Royal Hotel Gatton when he became angry and started screaming and yelling.
He punched a window and patrons became involved in a bid to calm him down before police arrived.
Gladstone Magistrates Court heard that after police arrived at the hotel, they tried to arrest Borg but he became so violent that ambulance officers had to sedate him.
“While police (were) trying to restrain him and control his legs, he’s pivoted his hips towards (a female constable), raised his right knee in the air and he’s put his knee back and struck her in her chest, which caused her to be winded but being a female, would cause her additional pain as well,” police prosecutor Merrilyn Hoskins said.
Borg pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court to assault police while adversely affected in public, wilful damage, public nuisance in the vicinity of licensed premises, and three counts of obstructing police in public while adversely affected.
He was sentenced to six months’ jail, wholly suspended for an operational period of 12 months.
He was also ordered to perform 160 hours of unpaid community service, pay $336 restitution for the damaged window and $1200 compensation to the police officer.
Convictions were recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
No conviction recorded
Imelda Marie Doig, 21
Bit cop on the hand “applying pressure”
During an incident at Yeppoon, a police officer grabbed Doig’s hand in a bid to restrain her and Doig bit the officer on the hand, “applying pressure with her jaw”.
In Yeppoon Magistrates Court, Doig pleaded guilty to charges including assaulting police.
Her penalties included 18 months’ probation and being ordered to pay $250 compensation to the assaulted police officer.
No conviction was recorded for the assault police offence.
Read the full story HERE.
Yasmin Yuvelina Laxmi Raghoobar, 20
Wiped her saliva on police officer’s arm
At Gladstone Hospital, Raghoobar was sitting in the emergency room, waiting to be seen by hospital staff.
She licked her hand and immediately wiped her saliva on a police officer’s arm, Gladstone Magistrates Court heard.
Raghoobar then said to the constable: “If I wanted to lick you any more bro, you’d have a lot more trust me - I’m f***ing not as dirty as you think I am.”
Raghoobar pleaded guilty to charges including serious assault of a police officer.
Among her penalties was being placed on 20 months’ probation and no conviction was recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
Harley Jay Harris, 26
Headbutted a police officer and broke a car windscreen
Harris headbutted a police officer during a cafe meltdown in Brisbane and moved to Central Queensland for a “fresh start”.
Gladstone Magistrates Court heard Harris also abused staff and customers at the cafe and he threw something at a car windscreen, causing it to crack.
He pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer causing bodily harm, obstructing police, public nuisance and wilful damage.
The court heard the police officer Harris assaulted suffered pain and discomfort but did not need to go to hospital.
Harris was ordered to perform 100 hours of unpaid community service and pay $1000 compensation to the assaulted police officer.
No conviction was recorded.
Read the full story HERE.
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