Tjanarra Grace Tito’s violent Bundaberg watch house attack revealed

A Caboolture woman learnt her fate after she brutally assaulted a police officer and watch house officer.

A young woman spent hundreds of days in prison after a watch-house meltdown ended with her attacking police officers.

A young woman spent hundreds of days in prison after a watch-house meltdown ended with her attacking police officers.

Tjanarra Grace Tito, 25, was at a Bundaberg shopping centre on December 11, 2023, when she was reported stealing from shops.

An off duty police officer apprehended her and she was transported to the Bundaberg watch-house.

The court heard Tito took off all her clothes and wrapped them around her neck after being placed in a cell.

Tito was arrested by an off duty police officer at the Bundaberg shopping centre and taken to the watch-house.

When officers arrived she became abusive, argumentative, and kicked at them before they took hold of her.

Crown Prosecutor Monique Sheppard said Tito bit a watch-house officer on the right bicep and bent the arresting officer’s little and ring fingers back, causing a fracture to her fourth metacarpal bone.

The bite to the watch-house officer went through their long sleeve shirt, Tito was subdued with pepper spray and both officers were treated at the Bundaberg Base Hospital.

The court heard Tito previously spent time as an inpatient at a mental health unit in Caboolture in October 2023 where she kicked and pushed a nurse.

Tito spent 149 days in pre-sentence custody.

Tito pleaded guilty to serious assault of a police officer causing bodily harm and serious assault of a public officer performing a function of their office by biting.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said Tito was born in Caboolture, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had struggled with mental health since 2017.

“In the lead up to the offending Ms Tito was homeless, her partner was domestically violent … and she was using methamphetamine,” Mr McLennan said.

“She stopped taking her prescription medication.”

He said she was feeling suicidal at the time of the offending and said Tito was in tears when she heard the officers’ victim impact statement.

The court heard she wrote a letter of apology to the victims and was seeing a psychiatrist during her time in custody.

“She’s feeling healthier than she has in years she says,” Mr McLennan said.

The court heard the arresting police officer experienced periods of numbness in her injured hand.

District Judge Gregory Lynham said Tito’s attack on the police officer caused her “immense pain” and the officer underwent two operations involving the insertion of a plate and screw into her hand.

“Your offending has had some profound consequences for her,” Judge Lynham said.

“Police have a difficult job to do at the best of times.

“To find themselves in circumstances to where they’re treated as punching bags … is not only deplorable but it is an affront to the difficult job police have to performing on any given day.”

The court heard Tito intended to move to Brisbane or Caboolture upon release.

Ms Sheppard said the police officer was not able to return to full duties for more than 12 months as a result of the offending.

“You have got to stay on your medication, you understand that?” Judge Lynham said.

“You seem to go off the rails when you’re not taking your psychotic medication that’s been prescribed to you.”

Tito was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and released on parole.

Judge Lynham declared the 149 days spent in custody from September 24, 2024 to February 19, 2025 as time already served and convictions were recorded.

“If you didn’t have the benefit of that presentence custody then inevitably you would be going to jail today for at least five months,” he said.

“I hope for your sake that you stay on the medication and keep yourself out of trouble.”

Originally published as Tjanarra Grace Tito’s violent Bundaberg watch house attack revealed