Queensland Police allege Tweed Heads man breached Covid-19 health directions by trying to cross border for swim

A Tweed Heads man accused police of “lying” about new border rules after he was refused entry into Queensland for a swim.

A NSW man accused police of lying about new border rules after he was refused entry into Queensland for a swim.

Byron Jeffrey Sjostrom, 47, of Tweed Heads, labelled police liars and laughed at them in a bizarre 60-minute stand-off at a Coolangatta border checkpoint on Monday.

At one point he protested his border entry refusal by lying in the middle of the road as officers tried to direct him back to NSW.

Sjostrom was fined $1378 in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to failing to comply with a Covid-19 direction.

People from the border bubble can only enter Queensland for essential purposes.

Acting Magistrate Mark Bamberry said Sjostrom acted in an “obnoxious” way against officers carrying out work directed by State Government.

Police intercepting vehicles on the Gold Coast Hwy. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Sergeant Natalie Gorman told the court Sjostrom presented an X-pass on Monday and told officers he was coming in for a swim.

“He argued with police and demanded they read him the legislation,” Sgt Gorman said.

“Police read and showed that to the defendant. He stated police were wrong, he could enter Queensland to exercise and swimming was exercise.”

“Police again informed him that wasn’t an essential purpose and he’d be refused entry.”

For an hour police tried to get the man to leave but refused. When he was told he would be taken into custody if he failed to comply he replied: “Arrest me”.

Eventually he did get into Queensland but was taken to Southport watch house where he spent a day in isolation.

Snapper Rocks on the Gold Coast. File image. Picture: Mark Furler

His defence lawyer, James Grehan, of Legal Aid Queensland, told the court the border restrictions were new and his client may have confused the rules with the NSW stay-at-home order.

The court heard Sjostrom was going to be driven back to the border on Tuesday. A conviction was not recorded.

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