Man denies crossbow threats

THE situation inside a Molesworth home in the early hours of August 1 last year was chaotic but did not include a man threatening to shoot two police officers with a crossbow, a jury has been told.

Rodney Gene Crosswell, 36, of Bridgewater, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer at his uncle’s home when his trial began in the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday.

Crown prosecutor Allison Shand told the jury police were called to Molesworth by another man who lived nearby.

Ms Shand said that man — who had what she described as a toy rifle in his utility — came upon Mr Crosswell on Molesworth Rd. She said he went back to his own home where he called police and reported Mr Crosswell had a firearm.

She said when police arrived and the front door was opened by Mr Crosswell’s uncle, officers saw Mr Crosswell holding a crossbow. “The allegation is he put the crossbow up to the officers … there was shouting and threats to shoot the police,” she said.

Ms Shand said when police entered the house, Mr Crosswell was going in and out of a bedroom, where he ended up leaving the crossbow.

She said he told police when he was interviewed that he initially retrieved the crossbow because the other man had pointed a rifle at him.

Mr Crosswell’s barrister Fabiano Cangelosi said the situation at the house was chaotic when police arrived.

He said the two officers at the front door drew their guns.

The trial continues.