Man who claimed to be a cop and detained two teens to front Gympie court
Video has emerged of the moment a man accused of impersonating a police officer detained three terrified teenagers, who were “reduced to tears, trembling and shaking in immense fear”. Police believe there are more victims out there. WATCH THE VIDEO
Police & Courts
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A Gympie man who police claim allegedly held two teens against their will under the guise he was a cop has been denied bail after appearing in court over the incident this morning.
Dominic Fox, 36, was charged with a spate of offences that police allege were committed over a three year time frame, spanning from 2017 to 2020 across both Brisbane and Gympie.
Fox was charged with two counts of assuming designation or description of a police officer and one count of falsely representing to be a returned soldier.
Police say they have uncovered several video recordings of Fox allegedly using the QPS brand to “give himself influence and intimidate people,” in acts that have left his victims “reduced to tears, trembling and shaking in immense fear.”
Detective Sergeant Robert Lowry, who is investigating Fox after video emerged earlier this month of him allegedly detaining two teenage boys while claiming to be a cop, said police believe there may be many more unknowing victims.
“It is highly likely that young people in the community have been threatened by this person and subject to very intimidating behaviour of this 36-year-old man,” Det Sgnt Lowry said.
“He appears to be using a very aggressive and intimidating dog that he has with him … He has been using the dog to threaten and intimidate people.
Det Sgnt Lowry said the Queensland Police Service are aware of several victims, who range in ages from 15 to 68 years old.
According to Det Sgnt Lowry, police only became aware of Fox’s alleged offending after they were investigating an unrelated property theft crime.
Police allege Fox, who is not a member of the Queensland Police Service, detained two 15-year-old boys while claiming to be a member of the QPS dog squad, with the incident only coming to light after police were made aware of video footage of the event earlier this month.
Police found tactical clothing, weapons, holsters, military-style clothing and police service patches from a number of different organisations while raiding Fox’s Jones Hill home following the incident.
Police also said they found a number of endangered animals at the property.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife and the Department of Fisheries are investigating how Fox gained access to the animals.
Fox, who spruiks the mantra “the only easy day was yesterday, stay focused, there’s no such thing as failure,” on his Facebook page, was slapped with 15 counts of deprivation of liberty, four counts of common assault, two counts of possessing restricted items and one count each of threatening violence and unlawfully possessing a weapon.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have had similar interactions where Fox has claimed to be a member of the Queensland Police Service to come forward.
