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Father of youths accused of Heyington police bashing fronts court

The father of two youths accused of viciously attacking one of Victoria’s most senior cops has been denied bail on his own charges, after telling a court he was “venting” when threatening to urinate on a top cop.

Brothers face court over Victoria police bashing

The father of two men accused of bashing one of Victoria’s top cops has told a court he was simply venting when he labelled the officer a “maggot dog” and threatened to urinate on him.

Jared Pihlgren, 49, fronted the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tonight charged with intimidating law enforcement officers and using a telecommunication device to menace.

He was unsuccessful in his bail application and will remain in custody until June 28.

The Herald Sun understands he is the first person in Victoria to be charged with intimidating officers.

The charge relates to a Facebook post he made shortly after his two young sons were arrested for allegedly attacking Assistant Police Commissioner Chris O’Neill near Heyington train station in Toorak on Sunday.

Mr Pihlgren chose to represent himself in his bid for bail.

He argued that despite naming Assistant Commissioner O’Neil in the post on his Facebook profile he was not directly threatening him, but was “responding to the mob”.

The brothers’ father, Jared Pihlgren, was in court to support his sons. He has since been charged. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross
The brothers’ father, Jared Pihlgren, was in court to support his sons. He has since been charged. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

He claimed he had been inundated with abuse via Facebook, including people threatening to behead his sons and have them raped in prison.

Mr Pihlgren said he had stable employment as a driver and an asbestos removalist and said that work, and his relationship with his partner, would be at risk if he was held in custody.

Detective Senior Constable Angie Le Seuer said police were concerned he would reoffend and said his online posts had the potential to incite further threats.

Magistrate Bob Kumar agreed with the concerns and denied him bail, saying Mr Pihlgren was an unacceptable risk of reoffending and would endanger the safety and welfare of other members of the community.

Court documents show his charges include using a carriage service in a manner in which a reasonable person would regard as being menacing and using intimidation toward Assistant Commissioner Chris O’Neil.

Two other charges relate to taking a photo during a court case at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 1 and publishing that photo on Facebook.

BROTHER ACCUSED SHAVED HEADS TO ESCAPE

Yesterday, a court heard that the two brothers accused of bashing top transport cop Chris O’Neill shaved their heads to avoid detection after police released CCTV in their manhunt to find them.

Jay Stephens, 20, and his younger brother Isaiah, 18, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today with their locks gone after being charged on Monday night over Saturday’s alleged assault.

The court heard police found the hair in their bedrooms when raiding their Malvern East boarding house on Monday.

The pair fled out their windows but were arrested soon after and charged over the alleged attack on the off-duty Transit and Public Safety Command Assistant Commissioner near Heyington train station.

Outside court yesterday, Mr Pihlgren would not comment when pressed about his son’s alleged actions.

But he instead turned the focus on Mr O’Neill and repeatedly asked: “Why did he follow them?”

He allegedly called Mr O’Neill “a dog” and suggested he had deliberately targeted his sons.

The brothers accused of bashing a top cop shaved their hair in order to evade capture, a court has heard.
The brothers accused of bashing a top cop shaved their hair in order to evade capture, a court has heard.
Assistant Commissioner Chris O'Neill was off-duty when he was attacked.
Assistant Commissioner Chris O'Neill was off-duty when he was attacked.

The court had heard Mr Pihlgren has “an extreme hatred for the police” and had not co-operated in assisting with his sons’ arrest when contacted at 6pm on Sunday.

On Facebook, Mr Pihlgren allegedly wrote earlier: “F--- the police.”

The court heard Mr O’Neill, 60, was attacked after he followed and confronted the pair as they entered St Kevin’s College grounds, near the station’s entrance.

He had watched them be ejected from the train for anti-social behaviour moments earlier.

Acting Detective Sergeant Matthew Rizun said Jay Stephens got up into Mr O’Neill’s face and “tried to start a fight”, throwing several punches.

Brother Isaiah then rushed in and also punched the off-duty policeman from behind, Det-Sgt Rizun said, before both young men fled on foot.

Mr O’Neill suffered three fractured ribs, contusions on his lungs and bruising to his face and had to be taken to hospital, the court heard.

Det-Sgt Rizun said Jay Stephens had been a “bad influence” on his younger brother.

Jay Stephens only appeared briefly in the dock and was remanded to reappear in September.

But his younger brother, supported by Mr Pihlgren, who also goes by Mr Pilgren, made a bid for bail.

Police opposed his release, saying he was a flight risk as his mother and another brother live in Western Australia.

Before the alleged assault, the brothers had earlier been intimidating passengers on platform 10 at Southern Cross station, before getting on the Glen Waverley train where their drunken behaviour continued, Det-Sgt Rizun said.

Jared Pihlgren did not co-operate with authorities, the court heard. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross
Jared Pihlgren did not co-operate with authorities, the court heard. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

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“On the platform, they were hitting monitors … swearing and stuff,” Det-Sgt Rizun said.

“They were loud. They were pacing up and down. Their actions were just intimidating.”

One witness told police Isaiah was so intoxicated, he vomited on the train. But his lawyer Greg Thomas said he disputes this.

He said his client had a stable job and home to live in if bailed, and proposed strict conditions including working with youth justice and reporting to police.

Magistrate Duncan Reynolds adjourned his decision to Friday so a youth justice assessment could be undertaken.

They have been charged with intentionally and recklessly causing serious injury, and intentionally and recklessly causing injury.

rebekah.cavanagh@news.com.au

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/brothers-accused-of-heyington-bashing-tried-to-avoid-capture-by-shaving-their-heads/news-story/dbc678749d2a893f3dcfd7a252049038