Officer tackled

Brothers assaulted police

TWO shirtless brothers were getting over an alcohol-fuelled sibling spat when they assaulted police in the middle of a street.

Dylan and Reace Horkings pleaded guilty to assaulting police, resisting police and being drunk in a public place during a hearing at Geelong Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard police were called to reports of a brawl at Chirnside Court in Corio at about 2am on January 20.

When police arrived they found the brothers, shirtless, drunk and agitated, looking “like they’d been in a fight”.

An officer approached one of the brothers who admitted being in a fight but refused to give details. Reace pushed one officer to the ground, but the officer was able to get up and tried to arrest Reace.

Dylan then ran toward his brother and the officer, and spear-tackled the policeman.

Another officer attempted to arrest Dylan, but he refused to put his hands behind his back.

More officers arrived and eventually managed to arrest the brothers who were taken to Geelong police station and placed in a holding cell for drunken behaviour. When they had sobered up they were charged and bailed.

The brothers’ defence lawyer told Magistrate Peter Mellas his clients had “a bit of sibling rivalry”.

“They both thought they were sticking up for one another, but they admit they were far too intoxicated,” she said. “If they were sober they wouldn’t have made that mistake.”

In sentencing, Mr Mellas said the brothers may not always like each other, but their behaviour was unacceptable.

Both men were fined $1000 with conviction and were ordered to provide DNA to police.