Police assaulted: Jason Jennings bites, kicks, spits on police
Police who have had to keep arresting a man in Eltham have faced “just shocking” experiences, being bitten, kicked and verbally abused. One officer even had blood spat in their face.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Police have been bitten, spat on, kicked and verbally abused by a man they have repeatedly been called to arrest, with a Magistrate describing the incidents as “just shocking”.
An ambulance needed to be called for police on one of the two occasions Jason Jennings was aggressive towards police when they arrested him at an Eltham property last month.
The 49-year-old fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, June 17, having been locked up for 18 days.
The court heard when police found him in an Eltham front yard about 6.44pm on May 24 he told themto “f*ck off” and tried to push past them to run away.
Leading Senior Constable Matt Toohey pushed him down onto the bench where they’d found him, before he kicked out his legs, kicking a senior constable in the chest.
Police then placed Jennings on the ground to handcuff him and he bit the right index finger of a leading senior constable, drawing blood.
Leading Senior Constable Toohey said Jennings then spat in the face of senior constable, spraying blood and saliva onto the officer’s face.
The court heard Jennings’ teeth left a 1cm cut on the police officer’s finger.
An ambulance was called for the officer, while Jennings was also tended to for a cut lip and a bump on his forehead.
Days earlier, on May 21, when police went to get Jennings from an Eltham property, he approached police with handfuls of grass and weeds in his hands, which he threw at the officers.
The court heard he then picked up his bag and hit a senior constable with it.
Capsicum spray was used on Jennings before he ran at the police car and smacked it.
The court heard Jennings was also arrested on two other occasions, when he ran from police but was not violent.
MORE: OPENPAY IDENTITY SCAM NETS MAN $8K OF BUNNINGS GOODS
CHILDREN LIVING IN ALLEGED CROP HOUSE
MAN STEALS BABY FORMULA TO SUPPORT DRUG HABIT
Jennings’ lawyer, Chris Brydon, told the court his client suffered from an intellectual disability and was on an NDIS plan.
“It’s not an excuse that he does have such an intellectual disability,” he said.
“It’s obviously very serious offending.”
Leading Senior Constable Toohey agreed Jennings’ medical condition didn’t diminish the fact the offences were serious.
Magistrate Stephen Ballek said the incidents would have been “just shocking” for the officers involved.
“They’re just doing their job,” he said.
Mr Brydon said Jennings had slipped through the cracks with his support and care, and proposed he be released on a deferred sentence so a justice plan could be put in place.
He said Jennings, who had been living at supported accommodation in Brunswick, would instead live under the supervision of Focus Support Services in Mernda, who would provide him with work.
Mr Ballek agreed it was a suitable plan of action, bailing Jennings to live under the direction of the support service for three months.