Darling Downs police officer charged with crime fronts Toowoomba court

A Darling Downs police officer who has been charged with trespass had his case mentioned for the first time in Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Goondiwindi CIB charged QPS police officer Franz Andre Thaler with trespass.

Toowoomba Magistrates Court has been told a former Darling Downs police officer charged with trespass will attempt to have the charge dropped.

The Goondiwindi Criminal Investigation Branch charged Franz Andre Thaler with trespass on November 16, alleging the incident occurred at a Toowoomba home in June.

Police allege Mr Thaler, who has since been stood down, unlawfully entered a Glenvale property on June 22.

At the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Monday, November 27, solicitor Craig Pratt of Gilshenan and Luton, said he sent a submission to police prosecutions “regarding the continuation of the charges”.

Franz Andre Thaler left, and solicitor Craig Pratt leaving Toowoomba Magistrates Court. Picture: News Regional Media.

“I understand their office requires some time to consider those words before making a decision,” Mr Pratt said.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Jessica Lynch said the submission was received on Thursday, November 23, and asked for four weeks to consider the submission and respond.

Magistrate Clare Kelly placed Mr Thaler on bail and adjourned the matter to next be heard on December 20.

Earlier this year Mr Thaler gave evidence into the shooting death of his colleague Brett Forte, who was gunned down by criminal Ricky Maddison in May 2017.

Senior Constable Forte was killed on Wallers Rd, an isolated country road in the Lockyer Valley.

Mr Thaler told the inquest he had been on Wallers Rd 11 days earlier and had coincidently been going bushwalking and birdwatching on his day off.

The late Brett Forte.

The officer was clutching his police-issued iPad when he was confronted and photographed by property owner Adam Byatt.

The walk was just 11 days before his tactical crime squad colleague was gunned down by Maddison who lured police to the road in a low-speed chase before he ambushed them and sprayed their vehicle with automatic gunfire.