Man who threatened to infect police with coronavirus jailed
A tradie who told police he had coronavirus during an expletive-ridden verbal attack before trying to spit on them in Frankston North has been given a “severe sentence” as a warning to others wanting to do similar.
South East
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A man who tried to spit at police and threatened to infect them with coronavirus in an attempt to avoid arrest is now behind bars.
Daniel Gower, 28, was jailed for five and a half months after he screamed in the face of two officers and told them he was suffering from the deadly disease before attempting to spit on them in an unruly roadside arrest last Monday.
Frankston Magistrates’ Court heard Gower launched an explosive verbal attack after officers stopped his yellow Mitsubishi on Frankston Dandenong Rd at Frankston North after it was believed to have been involved in a theft at a Mornington mechanic shop three hours earlier.
The court heard Gower screamed “stay away two metres I’ve got coronavirus” when police approached the vehicle, before shouting “no I’m not (under arrest) I’ve got coronavirus you f****** mutts” in the face of a Sen-Constable who told him he was under arrest for suspected theft.
Magistrate Fiona Stewart heard Gower “wildly resisted” before trying to spit at police and shouting “I’ve got coronavirus, I’ll f****** spit on you.”
Gower, who does not have coronavirus, was on bail for drug and property damage related offences and was transported to Frankston Police station where he continued his aggressive outbursts towards police and custody officers.
In a victim impact statement, the Frankston Sen-Constable said the incident “impacted his relationship and mental health,” while the Acting Sergeant highlighted the heightened risk of police officers contracting the virus in the course of their work, while most people could continue to work at home while practising social distancing.
“Most people know emergency service workers can’t work from home while others practice social distancing,” he said.
“All police members knew people were going to use the virus as an excuse (to avoid arrest)
“(We shouldn’t be) spat at by people saying they have coronavirus in an attempt to avoid arrest.”
The court heard Gower stuffed a battery pack down his pants at Supercheap Auto Mornington prior to being arrested and also snatched a solar charger from Jaycar Electronics in Frankston in November as well as damaging a plaster wall at a Seaford property before police found a small bag containing ice in his wallet.
Gower was charged with theft, property damage, possess drug of dependence, unlawful assault, commit indictable offence while on bail, use intimidation towards a law enforcement officer, resist an emergency worker, intimidation of a law enforcement officer while on bail and resist police officer while on bail.
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In sentencing Gower Ms Stewart acknowledged his “lengthy prior history” and said others looking to use the coronavirus excuse should be deterred.
“Others tempted to offend in the same way will be deterred by a severe sentence,” she said.
“It is a serious offence to intimidate police.”
Gower, who lists himself as a labourer on Facebook, was jailed for five and a half months.