‘Barricades the door’: Shay-Reece Foster used scooter to evade cops, punches thrown

A North Queensland man who evaded police on a scooter has appeared in court for punching an officer multiple times in the head during a struggle on the street.

The Charters Towers police station on Gill Street. Picture: Blair Jackson

A Charters Towers man who evaded police on a scooter has appeared in court for punching an officer multiple times in the head during a struggle on Cambridge St.

Shay-Reece Foster, 21, appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court via videolink from prison and pleaded guilty to serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm and three counts of obstructing a police officer.

The charges began on August 5, when an officer attempted to stop Foster from riding a scooter without a helmet.

Police prosecutor Lisa Plessius said around 8.39pm police attempted to intercept Foster.

“They engaged in a foot chase giving verbal commands to stop,” Ms Plessius said.

“The defendant continued to run away until police lost sight.”

The Charters Towers police station on Gill Street. Picture: Blair Jackson

Ignoring the police’s instruction to stop was counted as one charge of obstruct police.

Three days later on August 8, at 10.54pm, police were informed Foster may be present in a Cambridge St house and there was a return to prison warrant for him.

Police attended the address and saw Foster exit the backdoor, Ms Plessius told the court.

“They told the defendant not to run, however (Foster) runs back inside the house and barricades the door with his body. Police forced entry into the residence, and the defendant throws a chair at police which missed,” she said.

“They then got hands on with the defendant against a wall in an attempt to restrain him.”

During this restraining process, Foster punched a constable twice in the head and once in the ribs causing the officer “discomfort” and “swelling”.

Punching the constable was counted as serious assault of a police officer, while disobeying instructions “not to run” was counted as another obstruct police charge.

Once inside the watch-house Foster refused to co-operate with giving his identifying particulars (finger prints, body measurements, photos of tattoos ect), this was counted as another charge of obstruct police.

Magistrate Richard Lehmann sentenced Foster to six months imprisonment, which the court added on top of the sentence Foster is currently serving for attempted robbery while armed.

His parole eligibility date was set as January 7, 2025.

Originally published as ‘Barricades the door’: Shay-Reece Foster used scooter to evade cops, punches thrown