Russell John Clarke pleads guilty to obstructing police, firearm charges

Police were forced to deploy their stun gun on a former member of the Australian Defence Force following an alleged disturbance.

Russell John Clarke faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court last week. Picture: Patrick Woods

A former Australian soldier has been Tasered and found with unregistered guns after police were called to an alleged disturbance at his home.

Russell John Clarke had a stun gun deployed on him by officers following the incident at his Palmview home on January 19, Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard last week.

Police prosecutor Nick Nitschke said officers were called to an alleged disturbance when, during their investigations, the 53-year-old father became belligerent towards them.

A back-and-forth ensued where Clarke escalated his aggressive behaviour which included verbal abuse.

Clarke after his sentence. Picture: Sam Turner

Sergeant Nitschke said police were forced to deploy a Taser on Clarke when he charged out to them onto the footpath and yelled threats. They were speaking to someone at the time.

The court heard police searched the Palmview home when they discovered he was a holder of a weapons licence, where they found a gun safe with five registered firearms however there were three unregistered guns inside which included Sterling and Winchester rifles. A pump action shotgun was also found.

Defence solicitor Rebecca Hatcher-Anderson said Clarke served in the Australian Defence Force which involved deployments to Rwanda, Papua New Guinea and East Timor.

Ms Hatcher-Anderson said Clarke was also diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, with the incident with police taking place due to his reaction to threats. He was also drinking and on medication at the time.

She was also instructed some of his reasonable requests to police at the time went “ignored” which contributed to his frustration.

He pleaded guilty. Picture: Sam Turner

The solicitor said her client was seeking further medical treatment since being charged with obstructing police, possessing unregistered firearms and unlawful possession of a weapon, which he pleaded guilty to in court last week.

She said the unregistered firearms found were decommissioned or unused, and were kept for sentimental value by Clarke who was a licenced weapons holder.

Magistrate Chris Callaghan accepted the 53-year-old’s remorse, however questioned Clarke’s behaviour.

“He’s a person who would’ve bowed to the uniform, complied with directions, yet behaves like this towards police in uniform,” Mr Callaghan said.

“Your behaviour was appalling.”

Clarke was fined $800 with no conviction recorded.

Originally published as Russell John Clarke pleads guilty to obstructing police, firearm charges