Tasmanian man jailed for three years after ‘appalling’ bow and arrow attack on police officers

A 42-year-old man who fired an arrow so close to a Tasmanian police officer’s head that its “swooshing” sound was recorded on body-worn camera, has been jailed for three years.

Roger Charles Compain pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting a police officer, following an incident in Penguin in January, 2022.

A 42-year-old man who fired an arrow so close to Tasmanian police officers that a “swooshing” sound was recorded on body-worn camera, has been jailed for three years.

Roger Charles Compain pleaded guilty to four counts of assaulting a police officer, following an incident in Penguin in January, 2022.

The Supreme Court heard that Compain had been living at his mother’s home, when seven police arrived at the address to conduct a welfare check on him.

After Compain exited the dwelling via the back door, he encountered a senior constable standing next to his vehicle.

When the defendant was told that police needed to speak with him, he responded “f*** off or I’ll shoot”, before firing an arrow from a compound bow towards the constable.

Justice Tamara Jago said the arrow had been discharged quickly, leaving the police officer no time to respond or take any protective measures.

“He did not actually see the arrow coming towards him, but he heard the sound of it as it passed close by to his head,” Justice Jago told the defendant.

“The sound of the arrow ...was recorded on [another officer’s] body-worn camera. As it passed … it made a loud swooshing sound.

“The arrow only missed [the constable’s] head by approximately 50 centimetres. If it had struck him, there was potential for it to cause very serious injury.”

The court heard that after the arrow was fired, police immediately evacuated the area and retreated to the vehicles parked in the driveway.

After two officers returned to the home to negotiate with Compain, he charged towards them with the bow loaded with an arrow, and raised in a firing position.

The defendant then got into his Toyota Hilux, which he reversed up the driveway at speed, directly at officers standing near their cars.

The court heard that a neighbour who observed the incident described Compain’s vehicle as “revving loudly, wheels squealing and reversing up the driveway fast before it turned and struck something solid. The vehicle sped up the driveway at speed with police scattering in all directions”.

Compain managed to leave the residence, but was arrested and detained hours later on the Bass Highway.

When police searched the Compain’s home, they found a sword lodged in the ceiling, and a knife in the wall.

The arrow fired at police was located near a fence on an adjoining property.

Justice Jago said that while the defendant had felt overwhelmed and intimidated when police arrived at his residence, his subsequent actions had had a terrible impact on the attending officers, with one unable to return to front-line duties.

“Your behaviour was, in simple terms, appalling,” Justice Jago told Compain.

“Police officers who routinely put their personal safety at risk in the service of the community can, and often are, subject to profound and continuing impacts from crimes of this nature.

“Assaults on police officers who are acting in the execution of their duty and for the protection of the public, often exposing themselves to risk of injury as in this case, must be condemned.”

Justice Jago ordered that Compain not be eligible for parole until he had served 20 months of his three-year sentence.