Alleged Toowoomba courthouse knife incident: Melinda Joye Le Miere charged with assaulting police armed with knife

A distressed woman who police were forced to taser after she tried to enter Toowoomba police station and courthouse while brandishing a knife has fronted court.

Melinda Joye Le Miere on a stretcher after she was arrested outside Toowoomba Courthouse for allegedly wielding a knife. Picture: Kevin Farmer

A woman who was forcibly arrested after she was allegedly seen brandishing a knife while running and screaming outside the Toowoomba Police Station and courthouse has been charged.

Melinda Joye Le Miere, 47, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, August 16, some 24 hours after the terrifying incident on Hume St.

No members of the community were injured, however police allege an officer was seriously injured during the incident.

Police and QAS outside the Toowoomba Courthouse after it was placed in lockdown after a woman allegedly brandished a knife outside the building, Thursday, August 15, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Police previously received reports of a woman holding a knife and yelling across from the police station, before running across the road and attempting to enter the building, and the attached courthouse.

An allegedly bloody Ms LeMiere was subdued by police after a taser was deployed, hitting her in the forehead.

Police responded in force to the incident, with witnesses reporting at least one officer seen drawing their firearm.

After Ms LeMiere was transferred from the hospital to the watch-house on Friday afternoon, she was charged with going armed to cause fear and two charges of the serious assault of a police officer.

When a shaken and blanket-clad Ms LeMiere appeared in court via videolink her matter was adjourned to allow time for her to find a legal representative who did not witness the alleged crime.

The duty lawyer told the court given she was present during the incident, there was a conflict of interest.

Melinda Joye Le Miere, 47, was taken to hospital with minor injuries.

When Ms LeMiere was asked by an acting magistrate what she intended to do with her charges, after a long pause she responded with, “I don’t know”.

Eventually she said, “lawyer”.

She will next front court on Monday, August 19.

Police and QAS outside the Toowoomba Courthouse after it was placed in lockdown after a woman allegedly brandished a knife outside the building, Thursday, August 15, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer