Dean Robert Richards’ court proceedings delayed months after alleged police standoff

A man accused of driving a stolen ute into a house and then hopping on a boat before facing off with police has had his matters mentioned in court for the first time this year.

Dean Robert Richards surrendered himself after a five hour standoff. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A man charged over an incident involving a ute which smashed into a Sunshine Coast home and a standoff against police has had his matters delayed in court.

Dean Robert Richards had his matters mentioned by defence lawyer Luke Bull in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, January 6.

He has been charged with more than 20 offences after he allegedly stole a police officer’s privately owned Ford Ranger and crashed it into a Golden Beach house on July 8, 2024.

Police previously alleged Mr Richards then fled to the Power Boat Club and barricaded himself on a vessel before arming himself with knives and dousing himself in petrol.

Officers who arrived on scene negotiated with Mr Richards, who surrendered about five hours later.

The car was allegedly stolen from a Wurtulla home. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He has been remanded in custody since.

Mr Bull told the court on Monday the matter has “been around for a while” as his firm received instructions to perform a mental health assessment which were then withdrawn.

He asked for an adjournment to allow case conferencing surrounding one of the charges of entering a premise and committing an offence.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan adjourned the matter to January 13.

Dean Robert Richards surrendered himself after a five hour standoff. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Richards has been charged with three counts of breaching bail, four of wilful damage, two of evading police and one each of common assault in public whilst intoxicated, dangerously operating a vehicle whilst intoxicated, driving under the influence, driving without a licence, entering a dwelling and committing an offence, entering a premise and committing an offence, entering a premise by break-in and committing an offence, failing to comply with duties surrounding a crash, failing to appear in court, obstructing a police officer and unlawfully using and damaging a car.

He is also facing one charge each of possessing drug utensils, possessing items used in connection of a drug offence, possessing anything used in a crime, possessing a restricted item, possessing suspected stolen property and possessing a relevant substance or thing.

No pleas have been entered.