Top cop Daren Edwards interrupts press conference, tackles local pest

A senior detective has interrupted his own press conference to tackle and arrest a man | WATCH

A senior detective interrupted his own live press conference to crash tackle a man on a courthouse lawn and make an arrest.

Sunshine Coast detective Senior Sergeant Daren Edwards was conducting an interview with journalists near the Maroochydore Magistrates Court this morning when a Hungarian man, who identified himself as “Laslo”, interrupted the press conference to accuse police of being “corrupt, disgusting and abusing innocent people like myself”.

Det Senior Sargeant Daren Edwards. Picture: Annette Dew

Sen Sgt Edwards told the man “you can have your day in court”.

Minutes later, after Laslo had left and the press conference was continuing, Sen Sgt Edwards was alerted to shouting behind him as Laslo ran across the lawn with another man chasing him.

Without hesitating, Sen Sgt Edwards ducked down and sprinted five metres before tackling Laslo around the legs, dropping him instantly.

The man chasing Laslo yelled out: “He’s been inappropriate to my daughter”, while the tackled man protested, “I did nothing”.

“I did not touch the girl,” he said.

More police officers arrived and helped make the arrest, charging Laslo with public nuisance and stalking offences.

Police believe Laslo had allegedly repeatedly hassled a girl, despite her protests, as she walked past on the street with her father.

“It’s one of those things,” Sen Sgt Edwards said after the incident.

“The man had just been released and a young lady walking down the street had comments made to her which were related to her father, which obviously provoked the father.”