Coomera police incident: Corey Isaac Catalcam charged with multiple alleged offences

A man charged with fleeing from police after allegedly assaulting a woman and trying to drag her into a vehicle plans to fight the case against him, a court has been told. READ THE LATEST

A man accused of fleeing from police after allegedly assaulting a woman and trying to drag her into a vehicle plans to fight the charges against him, a court has been told.

Police allege Corey Isaac Catalcam was involved in a domestic violence incident at Anaheim Drive in Helensvale at about 1.50pm on Sunday, which drew multiple reports from alarmed members of the public.

The 29-year-old allegedly fled the scene in a white Honda sedan, but was soon stopped on Yuan St in Coomera after reportedly being boxed in by two police vehicles.

He was taken into custody before being taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition for treatment of a minor stab wound to his stomach.

Two police officers were also taken to hospital with minor injuries as a result of the collision, with both since released.

Scene of a police incident at Coomera's Yaun St on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Picture: Kathleen Skene

Mr Catalcam has since been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, evading police, and seven domestic violence offences including choking/suffocation/strangulation and deprivation of liberty.

Southport Magistrates Court was told during his bail application on Monday that the Surfers Paradise man planned to contest a substantial number of the allegations against him.

Duty lawyer Shannon Fletcher said the disputes – including the alleged victim’s credibility – could only be resolved at trial, and that her client denied assaulting or strangling the woman and had a hand injury that would likely prevent him exerting enough force.

Corey Catalcam pictured after he was stopped by police following a pursuit in Coomera on Sunday April 21, 2024. Picture: Nine Gold Coast News

Ms Fletcher said the allegation Mr Catalcam stabbed himself in the stomach with a knife “appeared fanciful”.

“He accepts that he’s grabbed the aggrieved by her coat, but it’s not the case that he’s assaulted her and forced her into the vehicle – it’s that he’s helped her back into the vehicle in what seems to be a highly emotional state, in the broader context of an argument between them,” she said.

Ms Fletcher said the tow truck driver claimed he “did not appreciate” that police were pursuing him due to his focus on the stab wound he had suffered.

Scene of a police incident at Coomera's Yaun St on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Picture: Kathleen Skene

The court was told Mr Catalcam was on parole at the time, but had otherwise complied with his requirements and was willing to comply with strict bail conditions including a mental health assessment and no contact with the alleged victim.

Mr Catalcam’s bail was ultimately refused due to the perceived risk to the woman and wider public and that he would fail to appear at court.

He was remanded in custody with his case to return to court on May 17.

Speaking earlier on Monday, Superintendent Peter Miles said the police pursuit was authorised due to the nature of reports from members of the public.

“The intel at the time was quite serious in regard to the safety of that woman,” he said.

Supt Miles said the circumstances of the later collision with police vehicles in Coomera would be subject of review.

“A pursuit was authorised given the information and the intelligence that was available at the time. That vehicle (allegedly) didn’t pull over and as a result that vehicle ended up crashing into two police vehicles,” he said.

“ … It’s clearly identifiable (from police camera footage) that he’s tried to get out of that situation. One of the police cars has tried to get in front just to try and slow the situation down.

“It wasn’t a high speed pursuit.

“The vehicle had some front end damage before coming into contact with the police vehicles.”

Originally published as Coomera police incident: Corey Isaac Catalcam charged with multiple alleged offences