Man who allegedly rammed police car and threatened officers with knife refused bail
A former jockey who allegedly rammed an unmarked police car and threatened officers with a knife has been refused bail after a magistrate deemed his alleged behaviour an “extremely serious offence”.
A man who rammed an unmarked police car and threatened officers with a knife has been refused bail after a magistrate said his behaviour was “an extremely serious offence”.
Brad Gavin Jones allegedly rammed an unmarked police car outside the Maroochydore police station on Friday, October 3, at 8.50pm, prompting officers to fire four shots and taser him.
He has yet to enter pleas to his charges.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Jeanette Grigoris played footage of the incident in court on Thursday, December 11.
Body cam footage allegedly shows the defendant ramming a police car with his white Mercedes sedan and approaching officers while holding a knife.
Another clip showed Jones yelling at police as they repeatedly told him to “drop the knife” before firing four shots.
He was tasered by an officer, and the knife was kicked from his hand.
Police searched his vehicle, where they found more snap knives, a slingshot, a diary, and a Bible.
Sergeant Grigoris said Jones had written concerning religion-related diary entries.
“God wants me to kill everyone,” he wrote.
“God wants me to kill his children.”
He has been in custody since the incident.
His lawyer, Chelsea Emery, spoke on his behalf as he was unable to appear.
She told the court the former jockey was released from acute care in a mental-health facility days before the incident.
The 53-year-old returned to the mental health unit after the incident, but was moved to a high-security facility on November 28.
His lawyer argued he was attempting to take his life by forcing police to shoot him, while the prosecution said investigating officers did not see it that way.
Ms Emery said her client did not intend to harm anyone but himself.
“He alerted police he was there,” she said.
“If he wanted to harm them, he could’ve snuck up on them.
“He would be more at risk of harming himself.”
Sergeant Grigoris argued a two-year imprisonment would be appropriate for the “serious nature” of the offence if he was found guilty.
Jones’ lawyer said a term of probation would be best, as it would allow him the chance to rehabilitate.
She said he intended to work with horses and would benefit from the supervision probation would provide.
Magistrate Raelene Ellis disagreed and said probation would be inadequate.
She denied his bail application due to the severity of the charges.
“I’m not satisfied he will spend too much time in custody considering the serious nature of this offence,“ she said.
“In my view, there is a significant risk to the community.
“Bail is refused.”
His hearing is set for January 19.
