Alleged hit-run driver Matthew James Dullard who is charged with striking police officer Mark Woods is refusing to speak to police and lawyers

The man accused of running down a police officer after a routine traffic stop before fleeing the scene has refused to speak to police or any lawyers since his arrest, a court has heard.

The man accused of running down a police officer after a routine traffic stop before fleeing the scene has refused to speak to police or any lawyers since his arrest, a court has heard.

Matthew James Dullard was due to face the Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link from custody in Port Pirie on Tuesday afternoon charged with the attempted murder of a police officer over the long weekend.

However, the court instead heard the 43-year-old Victorian man was refusing to co-operate with police directions and would not be appearing before the court.

Port Pirie based lawyer Kylie Pligl said she had spoken with Mr Dullard about representing him in court, but he refused to speak at all.

Police officer Mark 'Woodsy'. Woods was struck by a vehicle on Good Friday near Peterborough. Picture Supplied

Woods has since been released from hospital. Picture 7News

“I appear as a friend of the court who has tried to assist Mr Dullard, and he has not engaged whatsoever, so I can confirm he’s been given the opportunity to have legal advice,” Ms Pligl said.

“He won’t speak to anyone.

Mr Dullard has been charged with attempted murder, endangering life, dangerous driving to escape police pursuit, leaving the scene of an accident and other traffic offences after the incident over the long weekend.

At 3pm on Easter Friday, police tried to stop a silver Holden SUV on the Barrier Hwy, Ucolta – just over 250km north of Adelaide – when it struck and injured a police officer.

Police said Brevet Sergeant Mark Woods was initially taken to the Peterborough Hospital for medical treatment, after sustaining non-life threatening injuries.

Police at the scene after a Police officer was hit by a car in Peterborough, Picture 7News

He was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with SA Health since confirming he was discharged from hospital on Sunday afternoon.

Police allege Mr Dullard fled the scene but was tracked by the police helicopter as he continued travelling south on the Barrier Hwy.

By 3.45pm, he was taken into custody near the Barrier Hwy – about 1.6km north of Hallett.

Police prosecutors told the court Mr Dullard had been “difficult to deal with”, but his mental health was a main concern.

“Bail was opposed for the seriousness of the allegations, and most importantly for the welfare of the defendant himself,” the prosecutor said.

“I can tell the court that he does suffer from schizophrenia, he was diagnosed in 2019 in Victoria. He was under treatment in Victoria but not here in South Australia, and has been off his medications since at least Thursday and hasn’t been provided any while he’s been in custody.

“I have heard from the custody officers that he was quite coherent when speaking to his relatives and partner, but has declined to co-operate with police, so I think we have some issues here regarding his compliance, not necessarily just his mental health.”

He asked magistrate Paul Foley for a 14 week adjournment and requested the court relocate Mr Dulland to the Adelaide Remand Centre in order to surround him with a support network.

“That’s for us to give him the extra treatment that he needs that’s not available in Port Augusta.

“His small amount of family that he does have are based in Morphett Vale and they may be able to visit him and assist in his co-operation.”

Mr Foley remanded him in custody to appear in Port Augusta Magistrates Court again in July, and requested he be moved to the Adelaide Remand Centre.

“With liberty to call the matter back on for a bail application if that becomes appropriate,” Mr Foley said.

Originally published as Alleged hit-run driver Matthew James Dullard who is charged with striking police officer Mark Woods is refusing to speak to police and lawyers