Beau Haile of Stroud spat at cop during height of COVID-19 in April
A Stroud man — who said he was very sorry for spitting at a police officer who was responding to a domestic violence incident at his house, during the height of COVID-19 — is set to be sentenced next month.
Newcastle
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A man charged with spitting at a police officer during the height of COVID-19 in back in April had his sentencing at Raymond Terrace Local Court delayed on Monday as the court rules whether he’s suitable for drug or alcohol treatment.
Beau Haile, 29, pleaded guilty to contravening an AVO and assaulting a police officer at his Stroud home on April 22 when police were there responding to a domestic violence incident.
Police had been called to Mr Haile’s Berkeley St home on a number of occasions after neighbours heard loud arguments coming from the premises.
After finding ladies clothing and a cosmetics bags on the side of the verandah, a Dungog police officer questioned Mr Haile on whether a woman — who was under a protection order since March — had been staying there.
He told the officer it was an argument with his mother but when the senior constable went to walk away he spat on the back of his neck.
Concerned for his own welfare in the current COVID-19 climate, the officer deployed capsicum spray before arresting Mr Haile. A search of the home found a 32-year-old woman in the dining room.
Mr Haile later apologised to police for his actions and shook the hand of the officer involved.
“I am sorry about what I did, I didn’t want to say I was with her because she had nowhere to go and I thought I’d get in trouble if I told you,” he said in police facts.
Mr Haile appeared at Raymond Terrace Local Court on Monday where he was supposed to be sentenced.
Instead Magistrate Brett Shields ordered to see if he was suitable for the MERIT program, which offers targeted drug or alcohol treatment.
His matter was adjourned until next month.
In early April a public health order was made directing that any person must not intentionally spit at or cough on public officials or other workers in a way that is reasonably likely to cause fear about the spread of COVID-19.