Man elbowed police officer in the breast when he was being escorted out of the watch house

The man’s lawyer claimed in court he was rushing out of the watch house and fell over when he struck the officer in the breast.

A man has been ordered to pay thousands in compensation after he elbowed a female police officer in the breast when he was being escorted out of a watch house.

On Friday March 6, Tony Marentis’s attended the Pine Rivers watch house after police raided his home.

A female police officer twice told Marentis to leave, the first time as he was drinking a beer outside the watch house, and the second time when it was found he had been asked to attend Innisfail police station.

Marentis became frustrated and when he was being escorted out Marentis fell to the ground and elbowed the officer in the breast.

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When police raided Marentis’s Petrie home they found about five grams of cannabis, a bong, grinder and other drug utensils in a garden shed in the back yard.

Marentis pleaded guilty at Pine Rivers Magistrates Court to assault and drugs charges.

Marentis’s lawyer Michael Hefford told the court his client had rushed to leave and lost his footing.

But Acting Magistrate Barbara Tynan said she did not accept this as the truth.

“With great respect to Mr Hefford a lot of spin has been put on this matter today,” she said.

The court heard the officer was diagnosed with a haematoma in her breast and had bruising for over a month.

Ms Tynan said she would not fine Marentis as he already had a SPER debt of about $7000 that he was not paying off.

The court heard Marentis had previously been jailed for drug offending and had a history of breaking and entering and assault.

Marentis was placed on a two month jail sentence that was suspended for 12 months. He was ordered to pay $3000 compensation to the police officer.