Police hunt thug who brutally bashed a parking officer at Southport

A COUNCIL parking inspector was brutally bashed in broad daylight by a thug driving a green Commodore. Now police are on the hunt.

Police interview a fellow parking inspector on the scene. Photo Richard Gosling

A GOLD Coast City council parking inspector who was brutally bashed while doing his job has recorded the evidence police need to track down his assailant.

The 59-year-old was issuing a ticket to an illegally parked car in the Nerang St mall at Southport when he was king hit, then punched several more times and left lying on the­ ­footpath.

The thug who hit him fled in a green Holden Commodore but didn’t count on the parking officer having already recorded his car’s make, model and registration.

The vicious assault has sparked a police hunt that is continuing.

Gold Coast District Superintendent Ben Hanbidge said the car registration did not prove as helpful as first hoped and officers would continue to pursue the Commodore and the male.

RELATED: COUNCIL PARKING OFFICER BASHED AT SOUTHPORT

Police interview a fellow parking inspector on the scene. Photo Richard Gosling

“We have linked the vehicle to a male with a southern Gold Coast address but it appears this may be an old address, so we have all officers on alert to look out for the vehicle,” he said.

“We don’t believe the car is stolen, so we know who we are looking for, just not where.”

Police refused to release the car registration for “operational reasons”.

Witnesses to the vicious attack said the man first tried to talk his way out of the ticket, but when that didn’t work he king-hit the officer and then followed up with two more punches to the man’s face. The council employee fell to the ground and cracked his head on the pavement but still tried to stop his attacker escaping.

Southport TAFE student Alem Saltovich said he was walking down Nerang St when he saw the parking officer lying on the ground and the green car fly down the street.

“There was a lot of blood and the parking officer was not in a great way,” he said.

“The first I knew that something had happened was when I heard the loud screeching of tyres.

“It’s not a huge shock to see this happen — people get pretty aggro at parking officers in Southport.”

Police speak to a witness at the scene. Photo Richard Gosling

Another witness who refused to be named said the council officer hit the ground after “about three punches”, but still tried to stop the offender leaving.

“He was on the ground but reached out and tried to grab the car door,” he said.

“The man who threw the punches was big, bulky and white.

“He jumped in the car with at least two other passengers and drove off really fast, straight after.”

The council employee was lucky to escape serous injury.

He was treated on the scene and taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital with facial cuts and blurred vision.

The man’s identity has not been released due to privacy and his family’s wishes.

Gold Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson said the ­council had a zero tolerance approach to violence.

“We are co-operating with Queensland Police and will provide full support to both the officer, and the investigation,” he said.

“Given it is now a police matter, no further comment will be made at this stage.’’

Originally published as Police hunt thug who brutally bashed a parking officer at Southport