Methed up construction supervisor fonts court for road rage incident, cop blow-up

A Toowoomba tradie’s anger issues landed him in court after a road rage incident where he smashed in a driver’s window, and kicked off at police who caught him drug driving.

Construction supervisor Clinton Douglas Stanger fronts Toowoomba court for road rage incident and drug drive run in with police.

A Toowoomba court heard a construction supervisor’s deplorable behaviour towards police officers and a road user was sparked by life stressors, which led to his explosive outbursts.

The construction project supervisor, Clinton Douglas Stanger, fronted the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Tuesday, June 24, and pleaded guilty to wilful damage, obstructing police, and driving with drugs in his system.

The court heard the 43-year-old had meth and cannabis in his system when police attempted to pull over his vehicle that was driving “sporadically” through Toowoomba on December 31, 2022.

Police prosecutor Isabella Schmidt said Stanger’s driving posed a risk to the public and noted after police activated their lights and sirens, he continued to drive for another 800m or so.

Ms Schmidt said he then began arguing with the officers and told them he wouldn’t comply with them.

Dalby Feedlot construction supervisor Clinton Douglas Stanger fronts Toowoomba court for roadrage incident and drug drive run in with police.

The following day, Stanger was involved in a road rage incident at a Toowoomba service station that left a man covered in shards of glass.

The court heard Stanger believed the man stole his carpark, so he got out of his car and smashed in the driver’s side window with his hands.

Solicitor Stuart Percy told the court Stanger immediately regretted his behaviour, as he immediately apologised and offered to pay for the damage caused.

However, the court heard the victim did not speak English and drove away in fear.

Mr Percy said in relation to the run-in with the police, his client wasn’t trying to evade them, rather he wanted to pull over in his own driveway.

He said Stanger’s behaviour was the result of significant life stressors, noting he was a person who “ticked all the boxes” of a contributing member of society.

Mr Percy said the father was recently involved in a traffic crash while working for his former employer, so he’s now supervising the construction of a feedlot in Dalby.

Magistrate Mark Howden said it was clear Stanger had anger issues and his behaviour in public spaces was appalling.

However, he accepted Mr Percy’s submission that the behaviour was out of character.

Mr Howden warned Stanger to think very clearly the next time he reacted the difficult situations, whether with police or other members of the community.

Stanger was fined $2500 and ordered to pay $319 in restitution.

Originally published as Methed up construction supervisor fonts court for road rage incident, cop blow-up