CCTV shows a man allegedly trying to attack officer with knife outside a police station
THIIS is the horrific moment a police officer on a takeaway food run was forced to grapple with a man allegedly trying to stab him in the head with a 20cm butcher’s knife.
NSW
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A knife-wielding man who allegedly ambushed two officers outside a Sydney police station in the early hours of the morning has been charged with attempted murder.
Sean Matthews, 28, was allegedly captured on horrifying CCTV waiting outside the Eastwood police station at 3am on Thursday when two officers returned from their duties.
The Eastwood man, who is known to police, lunged at the pair with a 20-centimetre “large carving knife” multiple times as they neared the top of the station’s staircase attempting to stab police officer Scott Collis.
Sean Matthews not brought into court on attempted murder charges because he was deemed “too volatileâ€. He’s accused of trying to stab a @nswpolice officer in the head in an unprovoked attack this morning. Refused bail to face court in September. #tennews pic.twitter.com/gUATvSGLmc
— Andrew Denney (@Andrew_Denney) July 12, 2018
Court documents alleged this was done with the intent to murder him.
Police were able to deflect the attack before the 28-year-old fled. Six officers, including the pair who repelled the attack, chased the Matthews into the dark.
He is accused of still being armed when the officers tasered and subdued him nearby.
Matthews was then charged with attempted murder.
The man arrived in Burwood Local Court on Thursday afternoon after dramatic scenes in the carpark where he was wrestled to the ground by corrections officers. .
Exclusive - man charged over attacking @nswpolice officers with a knife has just attacked a corrective services officer as he arrives at court. Sean Matthews is facing attempted murder charges after swinging butchers knife at police this morning. #TenNews pic.twitter.com/8pImodkkiU
— Andrew Denney (@Andrew_Denney) July 12, 2018
“The officers are distressed by the incident but I have to commend their resilience and their tenacity — not only in responding to the threat — but then giving chase into the darkness after a person armed with what can only be described as a large carving knife,” Mr McFadden told reporters in Sydney. Mr McFadden said a range of agencies are working together to establish the man’s motivation.
He would not detail why the man was known to police or if he was on the fixated persons unit’s radar.
“This is a threat police face each and every day they go to work,” Mr McFadden said.
“Police and enforcement agencies around the world have become a target for people who seek to undertake acts of violence randomly and unprovoked.”
During a brief mention, his legal aid lawyer told the court he was unable to see his client because of his “volatile” behaviour and there was a history of “mental health difficulties”.
“I called down to ask to speak to him, they said no they are not moving him,” he said.
“I said I could come to the cell door to speak to him and they said no you can’t do that either.”
He said this was for “health and safety” because he was “volatile”.
The legal aid lawyer said there was a history of him coming to the notice of Justice Health while in custody and he had been prescribed medication in the past.
He asked that he be kept at the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre rather than the Surry Hills Police Cells so he received “the appropriate level of treatment”.
Matthews mother and a friend were in court during the brief mention but declined to comment to media.