Richard Edward Finch sentenced for assaulting police in Sunshine Beach

A father downed a cocktail of painkillers and alcohol before pointing a replica military gun at police and cutting an officer’s hand with a fishing knife.

A father downed a cocktail of painkillers and alcohol before pointing a replica military gun at police and cutting an officer’s hand with a fishing knife.

Richard Edward Finch was handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence for two years after he pleaded guilty on Monday, May 9, 2022, to five offences including two counts of seriously assaulting a police officer and one of dangerous conduct with a weapon on July 24, 2020 at Sunshine Beach.

The court heard police were checking on Finch’s welfare and had opened his front door when the then 44-year-old pointed what looked like a military assault rifle at them.

Crown prosecutor Madalyn Olivero said police retreated outside before Finch armed himself with a fishing knife and opened the front door.

Ms Olivero said one of the officers grabbed the barrel of Finch’s gel blaster, tasered him and pushed him back down the hallway until he fell on his back in a bedroom and dropped the gun.

She said Finch used a fishing knife in his right hand to cut the officer’s middle left finger during the scuffle.

Finch was ignoring police orders and trying to get up when an officer punched him in the head three times.

The father told police he had consumed painkillers and alcohol and repeatedly apologised for his behaviour.

“He stated he didn’t want to hurt them and just wanted to be alone,” Ms Olivero said.

He said he didn’t care anymore and had cut his wrist with the same knife he had injured the officer with.

Ms Olivero said the officers didn’t know the gun was a gel blaster until after the incident and believed they were going to be shot.

The officer cut by the fishing knife suffered a 2cm laceration on his finger and had to undergo disease testing that impacted his ability to work.

Ms Olivero suggested a 12 to 18-month prison sentence and said actual time behind bars was in range.

She noted Finch hadn’t threatened police and only cut the officer during a scuffle.

Richard Edward Finch leaving Maroochydore Courthouse with his Barrister Mark Dixon (behind). Picture: Sunshine Coast Daily.

Finch’s defence barrister Mark Dixon said Finch was enduring a number of emotional and physical stressors and had an obscene amount of alcohol and painkillers in his system.

Mr Dixon said Finch suffered a spinal injury that needed surgery, had gone through a relationship breakdown and needed to vacate his residence.

Finch was diagnosed with major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, ADHD, and alcohol use disorder.

The court heard Finch had abided by his bail conditions and attended 10 counselling sessions and stopped drinking alcohol.

“He is not currently in counselling, but says he is not the same man he was two years ago when this happened,” Mr Dixon said.

“He said supervision in the community wasn’t necessary and suggested a 12 to 18-month suspended sentence.

The court heard Finch knew the seriousness of his actions and immediately apologised to police and entered an early plea of guilty.

Mr Dixon said Finch had a low chance of reoffending.

Judge Nathan Jarro said the fact Finch had consumed alcohol and painkillers and was suffering from a disorder was not an excuse for the “highly dangerous” actions.

“It certainly does not excuse your appalling, immature behaviour because you put the lives of those officers at risk,” he said.

“The police officers have not only had to endure physical but emotional impacts as a consequence.”

Mr Jarro considered Finch’s personal circumstances and suspended the 15-month prison sentence for two years.