Wayne Walker: Northcote police assault sparks COVID concern
An off-duty police officer was violently assaulted after he caught a man stealing from a Northcote apartment building. But it was his attacker spitting on him that caused the expectant father the most distress.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An off-duty police officer was violently assaulted and spat on when he went to arrest a man he caught stealing from a Northcote apartment building.
The detective was punched, pushed and spat on during the attack on August 14, leaving him cut, bruised and fearful about contracting COVID-19, especially due to his partner being pregnant.
His attacker, Wayne Walker, fronted Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court on Friday, August 28, pleading guilty to the assault as well as charges for a range of other crimes.
The court heard when the detective senior constable drove into the underground carpark of an apartment building on Breavington Way about 4.25pm on August 14, Walker followed his car on foot.
Inside the carpark, the officer noticed Walker loitering around storage cages, before he saw Walker walk past him carrying tools he didn’t have when he’d arrived.
The victim questioned Walker, identified himself as a police officer and told Walker he was under arrest for theft.
The court heard Walker tried to get away but couldn’t find his way out of the carpark.
He then punched the officer multiple times.
Senior Constable Michael Kaye told the court the officer tried to push him away before a bystander rushed to help, and after a short struggle, they managed to restrain Walker.
As the officer was arresting Walker, he continued to resist, pushing both the officer and the other man, and spat on the officer’s forearm.
When other police arrived on scene Walker was searched and found to be carrying stolen tools, a light, box cutter, keys and head tail lights, suspected to be proceeds of crime.
The 47-year-old was also wanted for skipping bail.
Senior Constable Kaye told the court the bruises left on the officer days after the attack and the seriousness of spitting on someone during COVID-19 aggravated the charge of assaulting a police officer, and warranted a jail term.
A victim impact statement given to the court revealed the officer being hit with Walker’s saliva was particularly distressing for him and his pregnant partner during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The court heard Walker had previously been jailed for charges including resisting a police officer, and had been convicted or recklessly causing serious injury.
Lawyer David Rofe said his client had been unemployed for years due to a back injury and issues with cannabis and methamphetamine, and had been sleeping rough at times.
Mr Rofe asked for the former plumber to be put on a community corrections order to address his drug addictions.
Magistrate Stephen Ballek sentenced Walker to an jail term of four months for the incident and other offending, with 14 days having already been served, ordering he complete a 12-month corrections order upon his release.
Mr Ballek said the sentence would have been eight months jail, but for the guilty plea.
MORE: HOW A WOMAN THREATENED POLICE FOUR TIMES IN FOUR DAYS
HOW ANGRY DAD WENT TOO FAR OVER PHONE DISPUTE