Gosford police assault: Joshua Charles Scott refused bail after officers hospitalised
Two police officers investigating a domestic incident were hospitalised, one with a broken arm, after they were allegedly set upon by a man in Gosford on Tuesday.
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A Gosford man is facing 10 charges after allegedly putting two police officers in hospital on Tuesday, one with a broken arm.
Joshua Charles Scott, 41, appeared at Gosford Local Court today with Magistrate Alan Railton refusing bail due to safety risks to the community.
Officers went to a home on John Whiteway Drive in Gosford just before 8am to speak to Mr Scott’s partner about a previous domestic incident.
Police allege when they arrived a man began yelling and became increasingly aggressive before coming to the door armed with a knife.
The officers used capsicum spray and during a struggle, the man allegedly hit, kicked and spat at the officers before he was handcuffed and arrested along with a 44-year-old woman.
“His behaviour has gone from zero to full ball in such a short period of time,” Magistrate Railton told the court.
“It’s gone from police knocking on the door to an extremely violent struggle for no apparent reason. There has been a significant struggle with the end result a police officer with a broken arm.
It all appears to have been unprovoked. This is what causes the court to have concerns.”
Mr Scott is facing 10 charges including wilfully obstructing an officer in execution of duty; armed with intent to commit an indictable offence; causing grievous bodily harm to a police officer on duty reckless as to actual bodily harm; assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm; two counts of assault officer, two counts of resist or hinder police officer and two counts of intimidate police officer.
In his bail application, Mr Scott’s Legal-Aid defence stated this was his first offence in 18 years, with a previous offence in 2002 dropped under mental health legislation. It was suggested Mr Scott, if granted bail, report daily to police and abide by a curfew.
However the prosecution argued Mr Scott was a danger to the community and had shown no remorse.
Magistrate Railton said the “most concerning” reaction was captured on the policeman’s body camera.
He said due to the serious injuries caused, the penalty would be at the high end of the scale if convicted, however he acknowledged there are mental health issues to be addressed.
Mr Scott will appear at Gosford Local Court on April 17.
The 44-year-old woman was charged with using a carriage service to menace/harass/offend and will appear at Gosford Local Court on February 25.