NT Police officer Karol Adam Jarentowski’s 11th hour plea deal flagged over domestic violence breach, conspiracy charges

A Territory cop who allegedly breached his domestic violence order and attempted to cover up an ongoing investigation may avoid a Supreme Court trial.

NT Police officer Karol Adam Jarentowski leaving Darwin Local Court. He has been charged with assault, attempting to pervert the course of justice and engaging in conduct that breached his domestic violence order. Picture: Zizi Averill

A suspended Northern Territory cop who allegedly breached his domestic violence order on a mission to cover up an ongoing investigation called a journalist a “f—king dog” as he marched out of court.

Karol Adam Jarentowski appeared in Darwin Local Court on Wednesday charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and engaging in conduct that breached his domestic violence order.

His lawyer, Thelma Gray, said the matter was expected to go all the way to the Supreme Court, but an 11th hour plea deal from prosecutions could see his matter resolved.

“I’ve spoken to senior counsel who has suggested that I seek a two week adjournment to see if we can have Mr Jarentowski plead to a lesser charge,” Ms Gray told Judge Stephen Geary.

The NT Police officer was suspended, with pay, last year after allegedly assaulting a woman in Palmerston.

The court previously heard the 39-year-old officer allegedly threw a child’s T-shirt at a woman, hitting her in the back of the head on August 2, 2024.

Ms Gray previously said the alleged assault was in breach of an undertaking he had agreed to a month earlier, promising to the court not to harass or behave in a threatening manner.

She said 21 days after the alleged throwing incident, police issued a domestic violence order.

Lawyer Thelma Gray leaves the Darwin Local Court. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Mr Jarentowski was accused of breaching that order fewer than 60 days after the Palmerston incident.

He was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and the breach in relation to an incident on September 28.

Mr Geary adjourned the matter to February 26 for a preliminary examination mention.

NT Police officer Karol Adam Jarentowski leaving Darwin Local Court. He has been charged with assault, attempting to pervert the course of justice and engaging in conduct that breached his domestic violence order. Picture: Zizi Averill

The assault charge hearing will return to the courts on May 1.

After being photographed by a NT News journalist outside Darwin Local Court, Mr Jarentowski called out: “You get what you want? You f—king dog”.

Originally published as NT Police officer Karol Adam Jarentowski’s 11th hour plea deal flagged over domestic violence breach, conspiracy charges