Cori William Collier sentenced after kneeing police officer in the head while drunk

A Sunshine Coast father of three assaulted police while drunk in front of his children after they attended his address before officers used tasers to apprehend him.

The children of a Nambour man who was so drunk he assaulted police outside is own home had to watch on as the father was subdued by a taser, a court heard.

Cori William Collier, 33, pleaded guilty at Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, May 23, 2022, to one count of assaulting police, one count of resisting police and obstructing an officer.

The court heard police attended Collier’s home following reports of a disturbance and were asking questions when the 33-year-old became increasingly agitated.

Police prosecutor acting Sergeant Stephens said he was “extremely aggressive, erratic and mumbling in some of his words” and appeared to be under the influence of a substance.

Officers drew their tasers without using them which caused Collier to back away into his garage where he began banging on the door.

Police then tasered Collier as he pushed one of the officers to the ground and struck them to the head with his knee.

He then struggled with two other officers and cut one of them before he was subdued and apprehended.

Cori William Collier.

Two of the man’s children came outside amid the incident and saw it unfold.

Sergeant Stephens told the court Collier would need some ongoing supervision and that he could receive lesser charges and undergo a probation order.

He asked for Collier to receive a head sentence of six to nine months with immediate parole.

Collier’s defence lawyer said he had been drinking port prior to the incident and was remorseful and embarrassed for his behaviour given the incident happened in front of his children.

He said the 33-year-old had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was receiving ongoing treatment, but had not taken his medication on the day of the offending.

The lawyer mentioned Collier had been relying solely on parenting payments since taking on the responsibility of his children by himself.

He asked that the prospects for Collier to be rehabilitated be considered in sentencing.

Magistrate Maxine Baldwin said Collier should have known better than to act the way he did towards police particularly as a parent of three children.

“I can’t emphasise my distress more about these children,” Magistrate Baldwin said.

“For two of them to see their dad getting tasered is a nightmare, your behaviour that night is inexcusable.”

Magistrate Baldwin sentenced Collier to three months in jail suspended for two years with immediate parole for six months.

His previous probation order for past offences was revoked and resentenced for a fresh probation order for 15 months.

Convictions were recorded.