Reife Wallis faces Coffs Harbour Local Court after confrontation with C.ex club guard, punching police officer

A man punched a police officer in the face after being forced to leave Coffs Harbour’s largest club for making inappropriate remarks to a receptionist.

Reife Wallis appeared in Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link and has pleaded guilty to assault officer in execution of duty, excluded person fail to leave to leave premises when required, stalk/intimidate intend fear and two counts of hinder or resist police.

A man punched a police officer in the face after being forced to leave Coffs Harbour’s largest club for making inappropriate remarks to a receptionist, a court heard.

Reife Wallis challenged a security guard to “come outside” and told a police officer “you might want to walk away, bud” before a violent wrestling match broke out.

The 33-year-old man, who works one day a week at a Coffs fish processing business, faced Coffs Harbour Local Court on Wednesday over video link.

He pleaded guilty to assaulting an officer in the execution of duty, failing to leave premises when required as an excluded person, stalking/intimidating intending fear and two counts of hindering or resisting police.

Wallis made the remark to a woman working at the C.ex club about 1.30pm last Tuesday.

Wallis told a guard: “Come outside. I’m going to punch your lights out”.

A security guard warned Wallis, but he made another comment and was told to leave the club.

“It’s none of your f--king business,” Wallis told the guard.

“Go and get f--ked.”

Wallis then walked toward the poker machine area, where he met up with his female partner, court documents state.

She told him to leave the club.

Wallis then stood in front of the security officer and said: “I can punch your lights out.”

The woman walked Wallis towards the Vernon St exit door, but he turned to the guard and yelled: “Come outside. I’m going to punch your lights out”.

Wallis walked away from the club and police were called.

Police facts state Wallis was hit with a one-second burst of capsicum spray, which had an ‘immediate affect’.

Police officers found him sitting near the club and asked him to establish his identity.

Wallis became “immediately hostile”.

“You might want to walk away, bud”, Wallis cautioned one officer.

Wallis started to walk away and police grabbed his arm, but he broke free.

Officers grabbed Wallis by the shirt as he said: “I’m going to f**king flog you.”

Wallis punched one of the two officers in the face and a violent wrestle ensued before he was capsicum sprayed, handcuffed and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station.

Wallis made an inappropriate remark to a worker at the C.ex club.

Wallis was not interviewed by police because he was intoxicated.

The court heard Wallis lived with Asperger’s syndrome, took medication for anxiety and was seeking referral into the MERIT (Magistrates Early Referral into Treatment) program for his use of alcohol.

Police prosecutor David Sams told the court Wallis was on conditional bail when the offending occurred.

Magistrate Theresa Hamilton found mental health issues were clearly at play and she again granted Wallis conditional bail.

He cannot enter the C.ex club, nor any licensed premises.

The case was adjourned to April 5.