Woman denies pushing officer in a state reserve near Penguin

A dog owner who brought her pet into a state reserve denies pushing and intimidating a Parks and Wildlife Service officer. LATEST >>

A DOG owner has denied assaulting a Parks and Wildlife Officer and threatening to “smash him in the face” after he told her pets were not allowed inside a state reserve.

Deanece Morrell, of Penguin, has been charged with one count of assaulting a public officer, another of using abusive language to a public officer, one count of intimidating a public officer and one of taking a dog onto reserve land which is no a designated dog exercising area.

PWS officer Kelvin Barrett told Magistrate Duncan Fairley Ms Morrell became abusive after he advised her dogs were not allowed in the reserve when he spotted her with her small white dog in the reserve car park on December 26, 2020.

Ferndene reserve near Penguin

“She went off ranting and raving and told me I was an a--hole,” Mr Barrett said in evidence.

“She was yelling and shouting.

“She got close to me and said she wanted to smash me in the face.”

A video captured by Mr Barrett was played in court in which you could hear Ms Morrell swearing at the officer.

Ms Morrell, who represented herself in court, gave evidence that she had decided to stay in the carpark after noticing a sign that said no dogs could enter the reserve.

The court was told the carpark was part of the reserve proper.

“He didn’t like that I had spoken back to him and threatened to fine me,” she said.

“It was unnecessary. Then he started sticking his chest out,

“You are allowed to stand up for yourself. As you get older you lose patience with those who piss you off.”

She denied getting very close to the officer and threatening or pushing him.

“That is totally untrue,” she said.

Mr Fairley will hand down his findings in August.