Woman charged after ramming cars in car park
A WOMAN who allegedly rammed several cars and a police truck before lashing out armed with secateurs at an officer was today described in court as “intoxicated” and “agitated”.
St George Shire Standard
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A WOMAN who allegedly rammed several cars and a police truck before lashing out armed with secateurs at an officer was today described in court as “intoxicated” and “agitated”.
Police allege Courtney Bell, 38, drove a white Mitsubishi Pajero into a Sutherland carpark at 4.45pm on Thursday afternoon before speeding up, crashing into several parked vehicles and reversing into a police car before waving secateurs at the officer attempting to arrest her.
Bell did not appear in Sutherland Local Court after she was arrested on Thursday afternoon and charged with two counts of predatory driving, assaulting a police officer and causing actual bodily harm, and using an offensive weapon to prevent her arrest.
A Legal Aid solicitor did not apply for bail on Bell’s behalf when he appeared before Magistrate Glenn Walsh.
“The mental health nurse has said she is suffering a form of intoxication”, the lawyer said.
“She is very agitated but she feels safe where she is and it would be cruel to ask her to come to the dock.”
The arresting officer was treated in hospital for a minor laceration to his finger after he blocked Bell’s vehicle in, smashed her car windows open and removed her from the vehicle as she allegedly wielded the large gardening scissors at him.
At one point police allege Bell rammed a parked hatchback and pushed it several metres while the driver was seated in the vehicle.
Bell was taken to Sutherland Hospital for mandatory testing and assessment before she was charged with the three offences.
She is due to appear at Sutherland Local Court via audiovisual link on September 17.