Justin Peter Karol caused hundreds to be evacuated after false fire alarm

A former Greens campaign worker with a doctorate left hundreds waiting on the street in the early hours after pulling the fire alarm.

A former Greens campaign worker with a doctorate in climate change caused hundreds of people to be evacuated from a Gold Coast tower when he pulled a fire alarm.

Justin Peter Karol had a day earlier been spotted causing a disturbance in Surfers Paradise where he was seen yelling: “I hate blacks.”

The 46-year-old pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday to seven charges, including false alarm of fire, wilful damage, public nuisance and possessing dangerous drugs.

Prosecutor Daniel Cuscheiri said Karol was spotted in Cavill Mall in Surfers Paradise about 7pm on April 22 yelling, throwing merchandise in a store and walking on the road blocking traffic.

At one stage he yelled “I hate blacks” before being moved on by police.

The next day, about 4.15am, he walked into one of the buildings in Southport Central on Lawson Street and pulled the fire alarm.

This meant 250 apartments across the three towers had to be evacuated.

Defence lawyer Harry Morris, of Karsas Lawyers, said Karol had received second-class honours in philosophy at Griffith University.

He then went on to obtain a doctorate at Monash University with a focus on climate change.

Mr Morris said Karol had worked on the 2011 election campaign with the Greens.

“He was diagnosed with bipolar in 1996,” he said.

“He has had difficulties managing that in the past 10 years and that may be due to drug use.

Karol told the court that he had difficulties carrying his medication with him while experiencing homelessness.

Magistrate Dzenita Balic sentenced him to 10 months’ probation.

She said she found Karol had been deprived of one of his capacities during the attack due to ongoing mental health issues.

“You have to understand that this should be a lesson to you about the importance of continuing to be medicated,” she said.

“You are not a violent person but (your criminal history) does speak of a person who has had long-term drug issues and long-term homelessness issues.”

Magistrate Balic said the consequences of him pulling the fire alarm were “quite dramatic”.

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