Joshua Dendulk faces court after dramatic siege and alleged assault on partner
A Barrack Heights man who allegedly assaulted his pregnant partner, triggering a dramatic four-hour stand off with police has asked a Wollongong Court if his unborn baby is ‘still in the belly’.
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A man involved in a dramatic four-hour siege at Barrack Heights last week used a short court appearance to ask his mum if his unborn baby was okay, after he allegedly headbutted his pregnant partner.
Joshua Dendulk, 37, appeared in Wollongong Local Court via audiovisual link on Tuesday, just over a week after he surrendered to dozens of police at a Myrtle Way home following a tense stand-off, triggered by the alleged assault of his pregnant partner.
Dendulk was set to apply for bail on Tuesday but was unable to do so as his lawyer didn’t show up to court. Instead of letting the opportunity go to waste, Dendulk asked Magistrate Susan McGowan if he could address his mother, who was sitting in the gallery of the court.
Before she could agree, Dendulk asked his mum if “bubs was still in the belly” after he allegedly attacked his pregnant partner on September 29.
His mother nodded to indicate the unborn baby was okay, which prompted Dendulk to respond with “good, that’s really good”.
Police began looking for Dendulk just before 1pm on September 29, after his partner presented to Shellharbour Hospital with significant facial injuries, allegedly caused by Dendulk during a heated argument.
Police will allege he pushed her to the ground, headbutting her in the jaw when she tried to get up.
After the alleged attack, officers from Lake Illawarra Police District interacted briefly with Dendulk at his Myrtle Way home, before it’s alleged he threatened them, and fled the scene on foot.
Police made numerous attempts to locate the 37-year-old, before receiving information he had returned to the premises about 2.45pm.
Police returned to the location to speak Dendulk, who initially refused to co-operate and again allegedly threatened police.
Police at the scene believed Dendulk was in possession of a firearm, and called in negotiators and officers from the Tactical Operations Unit to assist.
After standing off against police for several hours, Dendulk surrendered himself without incident and was taken to Lake Illawarra Police Station.
During a search of Dendulk’s home, police allegedly located various firearms parts.
He was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm after allegedly attacking his partner, two counts of intimidate police and breach of firearms prohibition order.
The 37-year-old will remain behind bars until his next appearance at Wollongong Court next week.
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