‘Sovereign citizen’ accused of seriously assaulting police officer faces Southport Magistrates Court

A renegade accused of assaulting a police officer after they entered his private property believes he is exempt from law – and now he’s stuck in the watch house, with his case in legal limbo.

The case against an anti-government activist accused of seriously assaulting a police officer is in legal limbo after he refused to sign his bail document and provide fingerprints to police.

Currumbin Waters man Scott William Coleman was granted bail in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday after being charged with seriously assaulting a police officer by biting or spitting, assaulting and obstructing police.

A magistrate warned Coleman he had to sign bail to be released from the watch-house.

He remained in custody overnight Monday because he refused to sign a bail document releasing him from the Southport watch-house citing “sovereign citizen issues”.

Police then charged him with a second count of obstructing police.

The 45-year-old appeared in Southport Magistrates Court again on Tuesday via videolink to apply for bail on the fresh charge.

Police asked Magistrate Kerry Magee to consider making an order as part of Coleman’s bail to only allow his release if he provided his fingerprints and DNA, which were required as part of the investigation.

Coleman told the court he intended to fight the four charges against him.

“My sovereign rights have been violated by the police,” he said.

Coleman faced Southport Magistrates Court. Picture: Jerad Williams

“They came onto my private property when I asked them to leave.

“There was no violence at all. They were asked to leave 10 times.”

The sovereign citizens movement involves a group of activists who incorrectly believe they are not under government jurisdiction and consider themselves exempt from the law.

Magistrate Magee told the court she was unable to meet the police’s bail request.

The 'sovereign citizen's charter' in which they believe police do not have access to their property.

“I’m not going to make it a condition of bail because I think there’s a procedure for applying for it if need be,” she said.

Coleman was granted bail and remanded to appear in court again on August 23.

“You have to sign your bail if you want to get out of the watch-house – it’s that simple,” Magistrate Magee told Coleman.

Follow @Melwhiting

Originally published as ‘Sovereign citizen’ accused of seriously assaulting police officer faces Southport Magistrates Court