Brutal wrestling inside Coffs Harbour Police Station, officer taken to hospital
An unusual melee in the foyer of Coffs Harbour Police Station has been detailed in a local court. Read how a man’s flight to freedom was short-lived.
Police & Courts
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A frenzied wrestle in the Coffs Harbour Police Station began after a man cheekily revealed a bag containing a “white crystal-like substance”.
Lleyland Douglas Roberts of Boambee East went to the station on October 7 as part of bail reporting conditions, according to Coffs Harbour Local Court documents.
The unemployed 41-year-old asked the officer “do you have a spare smoke”, before sidling up to the counter and remarking “hey” as he looked at a bag he had dug from a pocket.
An officer exclaimed “stop there, mate, police” as he brandished his warrant card and badge.
But Roberts instead made for the station door – and a wild struggle followed as the constable grabbed him.
Roberts punched the officer several times to the shoulder and the policeman also suffered a dislocated finger, police facts state.
Roberts managed to escape the station only to be caught outside on Beryl St by other officers alerted by the ruckus.
Police found three clear bags containing cannabis when they arrested and searched Roberts.
Roberts was seen throwing away a fourth bag as he fled the station but it was not found, according to police.
The officer injured in the scuffle was taken to Coffs Harbour Hospital suffering a “dislocated finger and possible small bits of bone pulled off by tendons”.
Roberts appeared by audio visual link at the court on Tuesday.
He pleaded guilty to resisting and assaulting an officer occasioning actual bodily harm.
A guilty plea was also entered to a charge of possessing a prohibited drug (2.24 grams of cannabis).
Defence lawyer Jonathon Paff made no application for bail and it was formally refused by Magistrate Michael Dakin.
The case was adjourned to January 20.
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