Joel Edward Brownlee in court after run-in with Hungry Jack’s workers, threatening to kill police officer
Police had repeated run-ins with an aggressive rough sleeper who threatened fast food restaurant workers and police, a North Coast court has heard. Here’s what happened.
Police & Courts
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A Byron Bay man moved away from a Hungry Jack’s outlet at Ballina due to his aggressive behaviour towards workers was pepper sprayed after threatening to kill a police officer.
Joel Edward Brownlee, 45, faced Ballina Local Court over videolink from custody on Thursday, seeking bail.
Police were alerted to Brownlee using drugs outside of Ballina Coles about 10.30pm on January 18, the court was told.
Officers approached and told Brownlee they were going to search his satchel, causing him to pull the bag away and exclaim: “Get the f--k out of my space you c--ts.”
Police took the bag, while Brownlee puffed out his chest and raised his chin.
“F--k off you f--kwits,” he yelled.
Brownlee was arrested and the bag was searched. Police found n 8cm knife and “green matter” wrapped in plastic.
Asked what was in the bag, Brownlee replied: “It’s marijuana, you f--kwit”.
He told police he paid $100 for the drug and was taken to Ballina Police Station, where he was granted bail – only to be arrested hours later.
Brownlee was told to move on by a Hungry Jack’s Ballina manager due to aggression towards staff about 6am the next day.
Officers then received various calls from members of the public concerned about Brownlee’s behaviour in the evening.
He was arrested, charged and again released before he was found unconscious in the middle of the footpath on Angels Beach Dr, East Ballina early the next morning.
Officers told Brownlee he had to move and he replied: “Or what? Are you c--ts going to try and move me.”
“I will kill you c--t, what are you gonna (sic) do,” he said.
Brownlee walked towards police and was hit with pepper spray, or oleoresin capsicum (OC) spray.
He “dropped to the ground rubbing his eyes and remained there until paramedics arrived”, police state in court documents.
Unfortunately, “paramedics were unable to assist as he (Brownlee) told them he would ‘flog’ them and told them “f--k off you dog c--ts’.”
Brownlee was charged at Ballina Police Station and missed a January 25 court date, resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest. He was picked up on March 24 and denied bail.
Brownlee was found guilty of resisting a police officer, possessing a prohibited drug having a knife and using offensive language in public.
Defence lawyer Rebecca Witchard told the court Brownlee had been sleeping rough, suffered poor mental health and that he did have criminal history.
Magistrate Karen Stafford granted Brownlee bail to attend a Cowra rehabilitation centre.
He was ordered to participate in drug screening, to abstain from drugs and to finish the rehab course, while reporting to Cowra Police Station.
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