Police officer Todd David ‘in wrong place at wrong time’ when he was seen snorting cocaine at party

A police officer who snorted cocaine during a party attended by strippers at a swanky Gold Coast hotel was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”, a magistrate has said.

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A POLICE officer who snorted cocaine during a party at an upmarket Gold Coast hotel penthouse suite was “in the wrong place at the wrong time”.

Strippers and another former police officer also attended the party at the Darling Hotel on June 27 last year.

Surveillance devices planted by the Queensland Police Ethical Standards Command captured Todd David snorting a line of cocaine.

David had been invited there by his Queensland Police Academy buddy and RAP police officer Zachary Maidment, the Southport Magistrates Court was told on Friday.

David pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs.

Maidment, who was celebrating his birthday, is still before the courts where he faces multiple charges including possession and supply of dangerous drugs.

Todd David outside Southport Courthouse Photo: Lea Emery.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Glenn Whittle told the court during David’s sentencing hearing on Friday that Maidment was “the primary focus of the surveillance operation”.

He said the surveillance had captured David doing a small amount of cocaine.

The court was told David and Maidment met at the academy but had not had much contact in recent years.

Maidment invited David to his birthday party.

David was a senior constable at the time of the party. He resigned in November last year.

Magistrate Kay Philipson sentenced David to a $300 good behaviour bond for six months. No conviction was recorded.

“You were not by any means the subject of the investigation into a serving member of the police force,” she said.

“You were in the wrong place at the wrong time and because of certain things that have gone on.”

She described David’s involvement as opportunistic.

“You have made a significant error of judgment,” she said.

“You are clearly embarrassed and remorseful as evidenced by your early plea.

“This is something entirely out of character for you.”

Todd David (right) outside Southport Courthouse Photo: Lea Emery.

Magistrate Philipson said David had received additional punishment due to losing a job he loved and media attention on the case.

Defence lawyer Mark Williams, of Potts Lawyers, said in the two years leading up to the party David had received three significant injuries while working as a police officer all which required time off.

He had also recently broken up with his long-term girlfriend.

“He was invited as were other people and he didn’t take the drugs to the party,” Mr Williams said.

“He saw other people using the drugs and it was opportunistic for him to try the drugs.”

A clean drug test David had taken on August 5 last year was tendered to the court.

Mr Williams also provided a number of character references, including from other police officers.

“It has been devastating for him and devastating for his family and in my submission he has paid a huge price and sacrifice for that decision back in 2020,” he said.

Earlier this week former police officer Joshua Bell was also sentenced to a $300 three month good behaviour bond for his behaviour at the party. No conviction was recorded for him.

The Southport Magistrates Court was told on Wednesday Bell snorted cocaine form an adult entertainer’s buttocks.

The party was also attended by Tyana Maree Hansen, a stripper and star of the Ultra Tune advertisements, including a recent one alongside Baywatch star Pamela Anderson.

It was not Hansen’s buttocks Bell snorted the cocaine from.

Hansen was fined $1500 after she pleaded guilty in November last year to two counts of possessing a dangerous drug and one court of possessing anything used in connection with a crime. No conviction was recorded for her.

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