Christopher Kerley charged with pointing imitation gun at officer, bashing son, kicking neighbour
A former police officer charged with a raft of violent offences including allegedly punching his son, kicking a man in the face at a Malvern East motel and pointing a fake Uzi at another cop, has been bailed to stay at a gun trainer’s Pakenham home.
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A former cop who allegedly pointed a fake Uzi at a fellow officer inside a police station has been bailed – to a property full of firearms.
He also allegedly threatened parking officers to try to get out of a fine, bashed a motel room neighbour and knocked out his own son in what police say was an alcohol-fuelled crime spree.
The affected police officer believed the machine gun was real and has been so traumatised he has been unable to go back to work since.
Christopher John Kerley, 62, was this morning bailed from Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on strict conditions he stay at a Pakenham property.
The court heard the owner of that site is a registered firearms trainer and has more than 30 guns, rifles and shotguns at his combined workplace and home.
Documents released exclusively to the Leader reveal Mr Kerley has been charged with nearly 20 offences including reckless cause injury, threats to kill, assaults and weapons possessions.
Police allege at around 3am on April 9 this year he was staying at a Malvern East motel when he engaged in a drunken argument with another resident in the courtyard.
He allegedly pushed the man to the ground and kicked him twice in the face, causing cuts and bruises to his head.
Mr Kerley was on bail at the time and shouldn’t have been drinking or outside the room as he was on a curfew.
About 11pm on February 21 last year he allegedly saw two parking inspectors issuing a fine for his illegally-parked car.
Mr Kerley, who was a serving Senior-Constable at the time, then allegedly drove after the pair, pulling up alongside them and showing his police badge to get them to pull over.
Police say he threatened to arrest them and demanded the ticket be dropped, saying he was an undercover police officer – which he wasn’t – leaving both inspectors shaken up.
Early the next morning Mr Kerley allegedly punched his son, knocking him out and breaking his nose.
A week later on February 28 Mr Kerley was at a police station, allegedly in a drunken state, when police say he picked up an imitation Uzi machine gun and walked into another room.
He then allegedly pointed it at another officer before walking off and laughing.
On November 17 Mr Kerley allegedly bashed a Malvern East motel neighbour, punching and kicking him while he was on the ground because he didn’t have any cigarettes.
On January 17, at the same motel, Mr Kerley allegedly went to the same man’s room, kicked him in his testicles and threw a mug of hot soup in his face.
Mr Kerley was not present in court due to issues with him being brought out from custody because of the COVID-19 situation, but his lawyer said he was disputing many of the charges.
A friend of Mr Kerley’s testified that he could stay at his Pakenham property if released on bail.
The court heard that man, who Leader has chosen not to name, is a firearms trainer and has multiple weapons stored on site for work purposes.
He said all of the 30-plus handguns, rifles and shotguns were kept in an alarmed, secure vault with around-the-clock video surveillance.
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Magistrate Dr Michael King said he would bail Mr Kerley because of the long delays likely due to COVID-19, and remand conditions for an ex-police officer would be very onerous.
He said the firearm security measures at the Pakenham property seemed to be of the highest level.
“There are naturally risks, I consider they can be managed,” Dr King said.
Mr Kerley was bailed on condition he not drink alcohol, abide by a curfew and not enter the commercial area of the Pakenham property where the guns are kept.