‘Foul and disgusting’
Man detained after spitting spree, ends up in court
A man who claimed he wanted to be arrested, fronted court after he spat on not only a police officer but a registered nurse while at Townsville University Hospital.
Tyrek Wendell Archer recently appeared in Townsville Magistrates Court after he was arrested for spitting on people, punching holes in walls at the hospital and stealing people’s food while at Riverway.
Police prosecutor Nathan Smith said the 23-year-old was taken into police custody after authorities in Bowen received reports he had been running out in front of traffic on October 27 last year.
“He was detained under an emergency examination and was going to be transferred to hospital,” Mr Smith said.
“Police opened the car door, and he spat at an officer with spittle landing on his arm and leg.”
On a separate occasion in Townsville, the father attended the hospital and grew frustrated at the wait time and started to punch holes in the walls and swear at staff, Mr Smith explained.
Two days later, on November 28, 2023, police were called to a disturbance at Riverway’s cafe after Archer was swearing at customers, taking food off patrons’ plates and eating it in front of them.
In his last lot of offending, on November 30, 2023, Archer presented at the Townsville Hospital and started yelling at a registered nurse who was on the night shift on an important phone call.
He then started yelling and swearing.”
“He bent forward, placing his head in the window, and spat on her arm on top of her work uniform,” Mr Smith said.
Defence lawyer Margaret Crowther said her client, who had spent 134 days in custody, made his way to Townsville from Bowen seeking his family’s support and had been couchsurfing.
She suggested the young man was experiencing mental health concerns such as depression after his brother’s suicide.
Magistrate Steven Mosch emphasised the “aggravating” features of the man’s assaults.
The man pleaded guilty to 12 charges, including serious assault of a police officer, serious assault of a public officer, public nuisance, interfering with an emergency apparatus and failing to appear in court.
He was sentenced to nine months’ jail, with the 134 days spent in pre-sentence custody declared as time served.
Archer was immediately released on parole.