17-year-old Bentley Park boy charged with serious assault

A 17-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly trying to bite an officer before spitting in his face at the trouble-plagued Cairns watch house.

The visitor entrance and exit to the Cairns Watchhouse located between the Cairns Police Station and Cairns Courthouse. Picture: Brendan Radke

A 17-year-old boy has been charged after allegedly trying to bite an officer before spitting in his face at the trouble-plagued Cairns watch house.

The incident comes less than a week after Queensland’s Police Union demanded the state government address overcrowding in watch houses.

Two female officers were allegedly bashed and others covered in urine in separate attacks in Cairns.

The two officers were allegedly assaulted by a 24-year-old man at Cairns watch house on Wednesday.

It followed a separate incident on Easter Saturday where police say a boy, 16, threw urine on staff and a fire which was allegedly set by an inmate in January.

Police pressed charges over the alleged attacks.

A 24-year-old Earlville man is accused of assaulting a female officer multiple times in the head and face before attacking another officer who came to her aid, leaving the women with bruised and swollen faces.

He was allegedly involved in a serious assault in Manoora of a 54-year-old woman, known to him, on April 2 which landed him in custody.

A 16-year-old Woree boy was also charged after allegedly throwing urine on watch house officers over the Easter long weekend.

QPU vice president Shane Prior said overcrowding at Cairns watch house was putting officers, staff and inmates at risk.

“(On Thursday) Cairns watch house (was) at 154 per cent capacity and this has placed significant strain on the system however the numbers could have been reduced with better management systems in place,” he said.

“Police watch houses can be violent, unpredictable workplaces and when facilities are overcrowded the volatility level among those in custody escalates rapidly; our officers have to de-escalate the situation but also protect themselves and other inmates.”

The 17-year-old Bentley Park boy was charged with two counts of serious assault and one count each of obstruct police and wilful damage.

He will appear before Cairns Childrens Court at a later date.

The watch house officer is receiving ongoing support in relation to the matter.

Originally published as 17-year-old Bentley Park boy charged with serious assault