Qld election campaign 2024: Premier Steven Miles evacuated from booth, chased down by Independent candidate Mike Jessop

Labor advisors had to evacuate Premier Steven Miles from a polling booth after he was chased down by an Independent candidate who had recently been released on bail. WATCH THE VIDEO

The Premier has been forced to flee from a Caloundra polling booth after being chased down by an Independent candidate.

Candidate Mike Jessop is facing serious weapons and stalking charges and has recently been released on bail following an eight-week stint in jail on remand.

Earlier this year, police alleged Mr Jessop was found with a shovel, axe, gloves, duct tape, ropes, a cadaver bag and camouflage clothing in his car.

Mr Jessop fronted media outside pre-polling booths at the Caloundra Cricket Club, where he proclaimed his innocence and sensationally accused the police of falsifying evidence against him.

Premier Steven Miles visits the Sunshine Coast University Hospital on the Sunshine Coast meeting Labor Candidate Jim Dawson. Picture: Adam Head

“Yeah, the police have falsified evidence saying I was armed with a knife, I was armed with a crossbow, nothing of the kind,” he said.

“I’d actually just come from... a church working bee on the previous Saturday, I just had all this junk in the car, you know, and some bin liner bags, and they said, ‘oh, you got a body bag’.

“They’ve just jumped to conclusions about what I was doing.”

Mr Jessop was captured on CCTV outside a property in Bli Bli.

He was charged with seven offences including unlawful stalking, possession of a weapon, wilful damage and possession of a knife.

Mr Jessop made a bizarre rank to the Premier’s travelling media group on Thursday.

He then, after asking what the Premier’s name was, attempted to talk to Mr Miles however, Labor advisors swiftly evacuated the Premier from the premises.

Independent candidate for Caloundra Mike Jessop speaking with former Labor member Don Rolls. Picture: Adam Head

Mr Jessop was then confronted by a bystander, Don Rolls, a local Labor member who had turned up to early vote.

“All the best with your charges,” Mr Rolls said.

Mr Miles, at an earlier press conference was asked whether it was appropriate for a person facing criminal charges to run for state parliament.

“I think the principle of innocence until proven guilty is a pretty fundamental one, but in the case of elections, the public has the opportunity to judge and they can make that decision,” he said.

Originally published as Qld election campaign 2024: Premier Steven Miles evacuated from booth, chased down by Independent candidate Mike Jessop