Woman tased in Wollongong as policeman stabbed in home visit

A young Wollongong woman who allegedly stabbed a policeman in the hand, causing a deep gash, is in custody. WARNING: Graphic image

The NSW police union president has slammed a young woman’s behaviour as “deplorable” after she allegedly stabbed a police officer in the hand during an arrest in Wollongong.

The senior constable was hospitalised on Saturday night after Brianna Lenehan, 23, allegedly lunged at him with a kitchen knife at her home after he was called there to sort out a neighbourhood dispute.

Wollongong Police were told a 25-year-old man was threatened on Tucker St, Balgownie, and his car was damaged.

The police officer had a deep gash to his hand from the kitchen knife.

Police arrived at Lenehan’s home to speak with her and an 18-year-old man, before she went to the kitchen and allegedly stabbed the officer, who did not have time to use his taser.

He was left bleeding with a deep gash to his hand.

A second officer at the house used their taser to arrest Lenehan.

NSW Police Association president Tony King told The Daily Telegraph no officer should be attacked on the job.

“Any assault of any kind on an officer of the law is deplorable, and even more so when a weapon of any kind is involved as it (allegedly) was in this case at Balgownie,” Mr King said.

NSW Police Association president Tony King speaks in 2019. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“Officers are out on the streets providing protection and keeping the public safe, but it is a reality that police officers face the daily risk of being attacked.”

He said injuries on the job can cause an officer’s career to end.

“The risk of being confronted by violence when police are called on to attend disputes is always concerning,” he said.

“The actual bodily harm caused can result in serious, sometimes career-ending injuries. Recovering from an injury also has major impacts on the family and friends of the injured officer.”

The officer has been released from Wollongong Hospital.

Lenehan was charged with a string of serious charges including wounding a person with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and assaulting an officer in their execution of duty.

She did not apply for bail in court on Sunday and is due to reappear at Wollongong Local Court on August 18.

The 18-year-old man has been charged with using intimidation or violence to unlawfully influence a person, destroy or damage property, and was granted bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court in September.