Dallas Cornell pleads guilty to assaulting police after drink drive intercept at Marcoola

Dramatic police body cam footage has been shown in court showing a Sunshine Coast labouring mechanic’s ‘despicable’ attack on two officers after being busted for high-range drink driving.

Dallas Collin Cornell outside Maroochydore Magistrates Court last week. Picture: Sam Turner

A Mount Coolum man has narrowly avoided serving actual time in custody after he attacked two police officers at a roadside intercept.

Body cam footage showed to Maroochydore Magistrates Court last week depicted Dallas Collin Cornell’s booze-fuelled assaults on the two policemen, who suffered abrasions, bruises and a chipped tooth from the wild melee.

The mechanic’s drunken assaults were aired after he pleaded guilty to two charges of serious assault police and one each of driving under the influence of liquor and obstructing police.

Police state officers intercepted Cornell about 11pm on November 8 last year at Marcoola where he was breath tested and detained for further testing.

Video footage from their body worn cameras was played in court which showed a visibly drunk Cornell being taken to the police vehicle while restrained.

After asking for a cigarette, the court heard the 21-year-old say “sorry boys” before, out of the blue, he threw his elbow into an officer’s face.

Cornell outside court. Picture: Sam Turner

The video footage abruptly showed a wild tussle between the two policemen and Cornell. The mechanic’s guttural yelling can be heard until he is finally restrained.

Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said it was a “surprise attack” on the officers.

Sergeant Burrell said the 21-year-old’s elbow struck an officer in the mouth before he violently resisted police, where the policemen suffered bruising and abrasions to their hands, face, elbow and cheek. One officer suffered a chipped tooth and cuts to the inside of his mouth.

The court was told Cornell was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital for testing where he obstructed police again, to the point where he needed to be restrained.

Blood tests revealed the Mount Coolum man had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.225 per cent.

A victim impact statement from one of the officers revealed the toll the attack, which occurred without warning, had affected him physically and mentally.

He pleaded guilty to all charges. Picture: Sam Turner

Sergeant Burrell pushed for Cornell to serve some actual jail time.

Defence solicitor Jamiee Burns said Cornell, who had links to Maryborough, treated his arrest as a “wake up call” and recognised he had issues with alcohol.

Ms Burns said the fishing boat worker turned labouring mechanic was remorseful and was referred for a mental health plan. The court heard the Mount Coolum man had no criminal history but spent three days in the watch-house following his drunken arrest.

Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist plainly called the incident “despicable”, and told Cornell he could have been taking a bus trip to Brisbane Correctional Centre after his sentence.

Mr Stjernqvist instead opted to grant him immediate parole after jailing him for nine months.

Cornell was disqualified from driving for nine months, fined $800 and must pay $1610 in compensation to the police he attacked. He was also ordered to perform 40 hours’ community service.

Originally published as Dallas Cornell pleads guilty to assaulting police after drink drive intercept at Marcoola