Tasmanian man charged after allegedly resisting arrest by claiming he had coronavirus

A man has faced court on a range of charges, including resisting arrest by claiming he was infected with coronavirus.

A ROCHERLEA man has faced court on a raft of charges, including allegedly resisting police by claiming he was infected with coronavirus.

The 29-year-old was intercepted driving at Rocherlea about 8.30pm on Tuesday.

He was arrested for a range of alleged offences, including breaching a police family violence order, evading police, refusing a breath analysis, driving without a licence, reckless driving, using abusive language to police and resisting arrest.

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Inspector Craig Fox, of Launceston CIB, said the man was also charged with criminal resist of a police officer by claiming he was infected with coronavirus and will face further charges under the Public Health Act 1997.

The man appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Tuesday morning.

“Police would like to remind the public to only be absent from their primary residences with

a lawful reason, as outlined by the Director of Public Health, and that incidents where a

false claim by a person to be infected with COVID-19 will be taken very seriously,” Inspector Fox said.

Under the Emergency Management Act, there is a penalty of up to 100 penalty units, which equates to a $16,800 fine.

Anyone who fails to comply with a lawful requirement or direction of an emergency management worker can face up to three months’ imprisonment.