June 20, 2014
Kingaroy police who were called to a disturbance in Gilbert Street, Kingaroy, got more than they bargained for on Wednesday night.
As the police car turned into the street about 9:00pm, the two officers on board spotted a vehicle doing a burnout and being driven erratically.
Officer-in-charge of Kingaroy Police, Senior Sergeant Duane Frank, said the car roared away at speed, turning into Haly Street and then into Tuite Street.
The police car followed and saw the vehicle pull into the rear of a house in Tuite Street.
“The male driver alighted from the vehicle and was extremely aggressive towards the police officers,” Snr Sgt Frank said.
Police will allege the 35-year-old Wattle Camp man – who had no connection with the Tuite Street house – confronted the two officers and made threats.
Snr Sgt Frank said the situation in Tuite Street became “very volatile”.
The male and female police officers, fearing for their safety, fired a taser at the man, he said.
But despite being tasered, the man still allegedly continued to behave aggressively, requiring both officers to restrain him on the ground and handcuff him.
The man was later charged with high range drink-driving and obstructing police. His car was impounded for 90 days.
Snr Sgt Frank said police would be alleging the man, who will appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on July 24, recorded 0.163 when he was breath-tested.
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Snr Sgt Frank said deploying a taser was not something that police took lightly, and it had only occurred on a couple of occasions in the South Burnett.
He said tasers were only used in situations when police were being threatened.
“The priority at the time is the officers’ safety,” he said.
“The taser is an effective means of dealing with violent, aggressive people in a non-lethal way.”
