John Wallace fronts Toowoomba Magistrates Court for common assault, obstruct police at Meatstock Toowoomba

When leaving a Toowoomba event earlier this year a 55-year-old was told by security to hand over his can of beer. What happened next was an incident that saw a police officer dislocate his shoulder.

A simple request for a man to hand over a half-empty can of beer ended with a security guard assaulted, a police officer with a dislocated shoulder and a 55-year-old farmer in court.

John Wallace faced Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to common assault and obstruct police.

The court was told Wallace was with family at Toowoomba Meatstock on April 9 this year, and as he leaving the event about 8.45pm was told by security he could not take his beer with him.

Wallace then pushed the security guard which instigated an altercation that saw him violently struggle against a number of security guards and police officers who attempted to intervene and restrain him.

Despite Wallace’s associates urging him to calm down, the court was told he continued to abuse security and police, ignoring directions to get on the ground and thrashed out against attempts to arrest him.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Chris Willson said one police officer had his shoulder dislocated in the eight second incident.

“This incident may have been out of character for (Wallace) however it was completely unacceptable,” Senior Constable Willson said.

“The initial interaction with security was quite a simple ask and it was quite clear what they were asking of him, he refused, was beligerent and assaulted that (security) officer.

“While it was not maintained that the defendent was the initial cause of the dislocated shoulder, it was a pre-existing condition, but it does assist in giving an idea of the level of obstruction he was providing to the officers.”

Wallace’s solicitor Troy Krahenbring said his client was extremely embarrassed for his actions and the way he acted that night.

The court was told the event was somber for Wallace and his family as they had been mourning the recent death of Wallace’s adult son.

Mr Krahenbring said his client had failed to see the signs that he was entering a no alcohol area and accepted that Wallace didn’t react well to the security officer’s request.

A volunteer with Camp Quality for 11 years, Mr Krahenbring said the charges had also resulted in a hefty medical bill for his client who will need surgery to repair a front tooth.

Magistrate Kay Philipson said it was “difficult to see” how a 55-year-old with no previous criminal history would react in such a manner.

Wallace was fined $1000 with no conviction recorded.