US citizen John Phillip Fishbach pulls knife and abuses police on the Boardwalk

An American man on a tourist visa in Australia waved a knife around outside the Salt House restaurant and said to police “no wonder you got shot”, a court has heard.

An American man on a tourist visa in Australia waved a knife around outside the Salt House restaurant and said to police “no wonder you got shot”, a court has heard.

On December 17, the court heard John Phillip Fishbach, 30, became rowdy at the Salt House and bar staff denied him alcohol.

As he was removed by security staff, the court was told he called out “You’re all Cairns pussies, your days are over”.

Police prosecutor Marta Chrabkowska told the court after he was physically escorted outside, he pulled a knife out of his pocket and said, “If this was my country I would stab you all”.

His waving the knife was captured on CCTV footage, the court was told.

Police arrived and arrested him about 8pm.

John Phillip Fishbach, 30, became rowdy at the Salt House and bar staff denied him alcohol. That escalated into loud remonstrations about his nationality, waving a knife around, and abuse of police. Picture: File

As he was taken away, the court was told he said “No wonder you guys got shot two weeks ago”, which the court heard referenced the police shooting on December 12 at Wieambilla.

Fishbach pleaded guilty to five charges, including committing a public nuisance, failing to leave a licensed premises, going armed so as to cause fear and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Defence counsel David Jenkins told the court Fishbach’s behaviour was “completely out of character”.

“His wife is from Cairns and they have been married for two-and-a-half years. The incident happened after he was drinking throughout the day.

“He is here until June, and can pay a significant fine to the order of $2000. He has also pleaded guilty in a timely way.

“It’s the first time for Mr Fishbach before this court and he’s unlikely to come back before this court or any other.”

Magistrate Susan Warrington said the most serious offence Fishbach was charged with was the going armed so as to cause fear.

“You were heavily intoxicated, you were escorted out of the Salt House and then you were waving the knife around,” she said.

“Your comments towards police were very distasteful, they don’t have an easy job and it was at a time when they were grieving.”

She agreed the offending appeared to be out of character, but that a substantial fine needed to be imposed to reflect its gravity.

She fined him $2000 and ordered the knife be forfeited to the Crown. No conviction was recorded.

Originally published as US citizen John Phillip Fishbach pulls knife and abuses police on the Boardwalk