Ashley Charles Washington’s death after being tasered twice on a Toowoomba street is the subject of a coroner’s inquest

A coroner’s inquest into the death in custody of a 31-year-old who stabbed a police dog and a senior constable before being tasered twice on a Toowoomba street has begun.

The circumstances surrounding the death in custody of a 31-year-old man is the subject of a coroner’s inquest being held in Toowoomba.

Ashley Charles Washington, 31, died in Toowoomba Hospital after being arrested and twice tasered in Mt Lofty shortly after 6pm, December 13, 2020.

In a brief overview, counsel assisting the coroner Sarah Lio-Willie told the court Mr Washington had been found at a home in Warana Ave, Mt Lofty, with stolen property by the homeowner on the afternoon of December 13, 2020, and after an altercation between the two men, Mr Washington ran off.

Senior Constable Jamie Williams of the Toowoomba Dog Squad was called to the scene with police dog Turbo and he came across Mr Washington walking west on Jellicoe St.

Ms Lio-Willie said Senior Constable Williams pulled his police vehicle with lights activated in front of Mr Washington in order to get him to stop.

Ashley Washington

However, when Mr Washington didn’t comply with directions to stop, Turbo was released and ran to Mr Washington who stabbed the police dog three times with scissors allegedly stolen from the Mt Lofty home, she said.

Hearing Turbo yelp and run off, Senior Constable Williams told the court he knew the dog was injured and turned his attention to Mr Washington, who he told to stop and get on the ground.

Body-worn camera footage from Senior Constable Williams’ equipment was played to the court as Mr Washington’s mother listened via telephone and two of the deceased’s family sat sobbing in the front row of the public gallery.

In the footage, Senior Constable Williams is seen deploying his taser which struck Mr Washington who fell to the ground.

When Senior Constable Williams approached Mr Washington, a scuffle ensued during which Senior Constable Williams was stabbed in the face, right arm and right leg and soon after he again deployed the taser which forced Mr Washington to the ground again and at least two more police crews were seen arriving and detaining Mr Washington.

First witness called to the coroner's inquest Senior Sergeant David Perry leaves the court after giving evidence.

Mr Washington was restrained by police on the ground for about 20 minutes before Queensland Ambulance officers sedated him and placed him into the back of an ambulance where he went into cardiac arrest and had CPR applied.

Unfortunately, Mr Washington died in hospital later that night.

“The cause of death was undetermined,” Ms Lio-Willie said.

Senior Constable Williams said after his injuries were treated at St Vincent’s Hospital he drove Turbo to the vet.

He said Turbo had recovered from wounds to the leg, ribs and chest.

Senior Sergeant David Perry, then of the QPS Internal Investigation Group, told the court he had investigated the circumstances of the police response and actions and, after consultation with experts in the field, found the police response in relation to Mr Washington as having been appropriate.

State Coroner Terry Ryan

The inquest before State Coroner Terry Ryan is expected to run for the rest of the week and hear from 11 witnesses including seven police officers and the two QAS paramedics who attended the scene.

The purpose of the inquest is to examine:

1. The findings required by s45(2) Coroners Act 2003; namely the identity of the deceased, when, where and how he died and what caused his death;

2. Whether the actions of Senior Constable Williams were appropriate in the circumstances;

3. Whether the actions of attending Queensland Police Service officers were appropriate in the circumstances; and

4. Whether the actions of the attending Queensland Ambulance Service officers were appropriate in the circumstances.