Canberra man Thomas Matthews deliberately hit police with car

Graphic footage reveals the moment where a man suffering mental health issues drove at police in Canberra.

A man who deliberately hit three police officers with his car outside the National Arboretum will learn his fate next month.

Thomas Matthews pleaded guilty to two counts of negligently causing grievous bodily harm in November last year relating to a dramatic incident in July 2021.

At 2:40pm on July 11 2021 three police officers were conducting an unrelated traffic stop at Lady Denman Dr near the entrance to the National Arboretum.

The driver who had been pulled over had been issued with a caution.

As Matthews drove past the pulled over vehicle at 2.51pm he turned left, veered off the road and hit the three officers with “considerable force”.

Thomas Matthews will be sentenced next month after driving at 3 police officers. Picture: Julia Kanapathippillai

Police believe the car was travelling up to 19kmh.

Matthews was medicated with an injection of paliperidone at the time of the offence and had consumed lorazepam and temazepam.

Footage shown in court showed the man who had been pulled over by police rushed to their assistance.

He is seen leaving his car and confronting Matthews before moving the car away to allow more room to assist the injured officers.

Constable Alyce Mueck suffered three fractures to her right leg and required surgery to insert a tibia nail.

Detective leading senior constable Alun Mills suffered an acute compression fracture to his T12 bone in his spine alongside abrasions to his scalp and right palm.

He has since experienced ongoing back and muscular pain due to his injuries.

Constable Melanie Miller suffered a 10cm by 15cm bruise to her left thigh.

Footage depicts the moment a car driven by Thomas Matthews hit three police officers. Picture: Supplied

A blood test taken following the crash found there was no alcohol in Matthews system.

During a mental health assessment with a forensic psychologist at the City Watch House Matthews denied having hallucinations or thoughts of self harm.

He later told a second nurse he didn’t remember much about the crash.

He told the nurse his mental health was “fine” but reported feeling sedated on his current medication.

During the sentencing hearing on Tuesday prosecutor Anthony Williamson called for Justice Lucy McCallum to exercise discretion about contact with police if she hands down a non-custodial sentence.

Matthews’ lawyer Jack Pappas told the court his client’s mental health had stabilised since the incident.

He said despite efforts of his family to seek help prior to the incident Matthews had “slipped into” serious mental health issues.

Justice McCallum will hand down her judgment on March 17.