Rodney Pearce fronts court on numerous briefs, contests charges

A Geelong man who made headlines after entering Channel 7’s Sydney headquarters to shake the hand of Larry Emdur has fronted court.

Rodney Pearce. Picture: Alan Barber

A Corio man who police ordered to stay away from TV host Larry Emdur after he attempted to find the star at Channel 7’s headquarters has fronted court on a raft of charges.

Rodney James Pearce, 52, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court via prison link from Ravenhall Correctional Facility, for a contest mention hearing on seven briefs,

Mr Pearce faces charges including assaulting a police officer, theft, possessing cannabis, resisting an emergency worker, making threats to kill, unlawful assault and multiple counts of breaching a personal safety intervention order (PSIO).

Mr Pearce contests a number of elements of the briefs, while others have resolved, the court heard.

At Tuesday’s hearing, the issues were aired before magistrate Gerard Bryant.

Multiple briefs relate to the same complainant, a neighbour of Mr Pearce’s, who has taken out a PSIO against him.

In one case, Mr Pearce, who has been in custody since November, allegedly stole a bottle of Jim Beam from Geelong West BWS before being pepper-sprayed and arrested.

Ms Pearce’s lawyer, barrister Tamsin Khor, told the court it was contended that excessive force was used.

Mr Pearce was charged with assaulting a police officer over the alleged incident.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Stephanie Drake told the court the Sergeant who was allegedly assaulted had been flagged down by two concerned witnesses, and there had been “multiple calls to triple-0” about a male causing trouble and acting aggressively.

Mr Pearce allegedly broke the top off the liquor bottle to remove the security tag, and placed it on top of a bin before continuing to walk towards the officer.

The officer did not have time to turn on his bodyworn camera but CCTV footage of the incident was played to the court.

Police relied on two aspects to prove the assault, the court heard, both Mr Pearce walking aggressively towards the officer, and punches thrown when both men were on the ground.

In the footage, the officer gets out of his car and within moments, Mr Pearce was pepper sprayed and the two were grappling.

Mr Bryant suggested to Ms Khor that her client may have “lunged” at the officer with his right arm before being sprayed.

Ms Khor argued her client had “thrown his hand up in response” to being sprayed.

Mr Bryant booked the relevant matters off to a further contested mention hearing in April, suggesting more information on Mr Pearce’s health issues, “be they medical or mental”, would be beneficial to the court.

Mr Pearce caused a media storm last year when he entered a Channel 7 studio in Sydney, allegedly walking past a security desk and getting into a lift before demanding to see Gold Logie winning TV host Larry Emdur.

NSW police took out an apprehended violence order for Mr Emdur against Mr Pearce.

Speaking from his home, Mr Pearce told News Corp he “walked into a building and walked out” and said Mr Emdur was his “friend”.

Originally published as Rodney Pearce fronts court on numerous briefs, contests charges