Qld man charged with attempted murder at Murwillumbah

A police sergeant’s head was allegedly held under water after a welfare check on a Qld man went horribly wrong in a northern NSW town now calling for a 24-hour police station.

Leichhardt man Ronald Charles Canning, 33, has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer after he allegedly held a police sergeant’s head under water in Murwillumbah on Monday October 31, 2022. Picture: Facebook

In a welfare check gone horribly wrong, a police sergeant’s head was allegedly held under water in a northern NSW creek until a good Samaritan stepped in to help.

The incident has left Murwillumbah residents, who say there has been a string of crime, reeling and calling for the police station to be manned 24 hours a day.

Sergeant Mark Maxwell was patrolling Murwillumbah when he stopped to check on a man and an injured woman walking along Wentworth Street about 4.45pm on Monday.

After conducting checks on their welfare, the officer from Tweed/Byron Police District also learned the man, who now can be identified as Ipswich man Ronald Charles Canning, had an outstanding warrant.

“When the officer returned to arrest the man, he allegedly attempted to flee, running towards a nearby creek with the officer giving chase before a struggle ensued,” a police statement alleged.

Sergeant Mark Maxwell was patrolling Murwillumbah when he stopped to check on a man and an injured woman walking along Wentworth Street, pictured, about 4.45pm on Monday October 31, 2022. Picture: David Bonaddio

“Police will allege in court that during the struggle, the man forcibly held the officer’s head under water.

“A member of the public intervened, freeing the officer and assisted to restrain the man, before the officer was able to effect the arrest.”

A welfare check in Wentworth Street Murwillumbah went horribly wrong for a police sergeant. Picture: David Bonaddio

The sergeant was taken to Murwillumbah Hospital for treatment to water on the lungs.

He has since been released from hospital to recover at home.

Trudy Swift, 47, lives near the creek, a scene she described as “absolute chaos” all day with residents scared to leave their homes.

“The squads have been there (the creek). A bloke got in with a wetsuit looking for something,” she said.

“No one has been out of the house all day. There’s been … police presence in the street all day.”

In a welfare check gone horribly wrong, a police sergeant’s head was allegedly held under water in this creek until a good Samaritan stepped in to help. Picture: David Bonaddio

Ms Swift joined a chorus of locals calling for an increased police presence in the once sleepy village in the Tweed hinterland.

“Murwillumbah is a little rough but it’s still little bit of a shock,” she said.

“There’s too much going on in town at the moment people getting attacked in the parks.

“The police station is unmanned. It does need to be 24 hours.

“If something happens it takes 30 minutes for anyone to tend to anything.”

Leichhardt man Ronald Charles Canning, 33, did not apply for bail. Picture: Facebook

Murwillumbah resident Cheryl McDonald said the alleged crime was “absolutely disgraceful”.

“I have never heard such a thing happening in Murwillumbah. It makes me sick,” she said.

Her husband Ronald said: “This sort of thing never happens in Murwillumbah, this could be easily resolved with increased police presence in the area”.

Cheryl and Ronald McDonald, from Murwillumbah, were horrified to learn a police officer's head had allegedly been held under water in a creek in their town. Picture: David Bonaddio

Fellow resident Callum Dawson also called for an increased policing presence.

“We need a 24-hour police station in Murwillumbah, there aren’t enough officers stationed here,” he said.

“We’re starting to get a lot of development in Murwillumbah to warrant that.

“There are a lot of young fellas here causing trouble – it’s just not right.”

Leichhardt man Ronald Charles Canning, 33, has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer. Picture: Facebook

Sonja Jones said Murwillumbah was “a sleepy town when I first lived here but it’s getting really yuppie at the moment”.

Her husband Adrian Jones said the town was becoming more upper class as “money moves into the town” but more police were needed.

“There’s plenty of d--kheads getting away with sh-t with the cop shop shutting early,” he said.

Mr Canning, 33, was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station and charged with the alleged attempted murder of a police officer.

The Leichhardt man was refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court on Tuesday.

A Queensland man has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

When the case came before Magistrate Geoff Dunlevy, there was no application for bail which was formally refused.

The matter was adjourned until December 16.

Local police will review the actions of the member of the public who came to the aid of police, with a view to make recommendations to formally acknowledge his help.