Ashmont teen Libby Cavanough threatened police during violent arrest

A domestic dispute between a teen and her mother turned violent when she threatened to burn down the home and spit on a police officer, forcing them to use capsicum spray to arrest her.

An Ashmont teenager told a police officer she was going to spit on him before resisting arrest and running away, only to be taken into custody when police found her at home and sprayed her with capsicum spray.

Libby Cavanough, 19, appeared at Wagga Local Court on September 21 charged with multiple offences including assault a police officer, resisting arrest and one count of stalking and intimidation.

Police rushed to a Brooks Circuit property Tolland about 10.30am on June 17 after neighbours reported a domestic dispute.

The court heard police arrived to find Cavanough and her mother had been shouting and hurling abuse at each other, with several children present.

Libby Cavanough, 19, has avoided jail after threatening a police officer during a violent arrest. Picture: Facebook

“You don’t tell me what to do fucking c***, I’m my own f***ing boss, my own parents couldn’t tell me what to do, what makes you c**** so important, you try and tell me,” Cavanough shouted.

Police called a taxi and waited at the home until it arrived, telling Cavanough she would need to leave the premises otherwise she would be causing an offence, the court heard.

When it arrived, Cavanough grabbed several shopping bags and walked towards the car as she shouted: ““Fuck you c*** mother f*****, watch out tonight cause I’ll be back to burn it all down tonight, all of your cars are going to be smashed.”

An officer intercepted the 19-year-old and told her she was under arrest.

Cavanough began violently thrashing and pulling away from the officer as he attempted to place handcuffs on her.

“I’m going to hurt you mother f*****, I’ll spit on you,” she shouted to the officer.

Libby Cavanough, 19, appeared at Wagga Local Court on September 21 charged with multiple offences. Picture: Facebook

The court heard several residents had gathered on the street threatening the police officers, while one resident hit a large metal pole on a fence close to an officer to distract them from arresting the 19-year-old. Cavanough managed to get away and fled the scene on foot.

Police then attended her Ashmont home to find her and several males who were hostile towards the officers, the court heard.

The police spoke to the young woman for 15 minutes through her fly-screen door as they feared the men may become violent before spraying capsicum spray and forcing entry into the unit and arresting her.

According to documents tendered to the court, Cavanough was ‘violent and thrashed around’ during the arrest.

During sentencing, Magistrate Christopher Halburd told the court “police need to be protected without being assaulted or threatened to be assaulted”.

Magistrate Halburd said the young offender appears to be at a crossroads in her life.

“There is only one reason that she is still within the community,” he said.

Magistrate Halburd warned Cavanough this was her chance to make a change.

“Your child is really relying on you, if you make any other offence within the next 11 months then you will be facing jail,” he said.

Cavanough was sentenced to an intensive corrections order and will have to complete 80 hours of community service.