Door attack to get dog
A GOLD Coast man allegedly used a grinder, hammer, chisel and sledgehammer to try to force his way into an elderly couple’s home to snatch their dog.
It was allegedly the second time David Joseph Parker had made a play for the one-eyed shih-tzu in three months.
Parker allegedly filmed his attempts to get into the home on Thursday on his mobile phone.
The shocking footage was played to the Southport Magistrates Court yesterday when Parker applied for bail.
He faced multiple charges including stalking, making threats and attempted enter dwelling with intent.
The eight-minute video allegedly shows Parker using power tools, a heavy hammer, and a chisel and hammer to break through two doors of a Burleigh Heads home.
In the video a man alleged to be Parker can be seen banging on the door yelling at the residents to “open up and give me my dog”.
The face of the man cannot be seen in the video.
The buzzing of a power tool is heard while the resident yells: “What are you doing?” Parker allegedly replies: “I’m cutting my way through here and I’m cutting my way through anyone else.”
The power tool cuts through the lock on the screen door and the man alleged to be Parker takes out a hammer and chisel and starts to hit the lock of a second wooden door.
The video shows something heavy being used to hit the door and another power tool.
“He is mine, I’m not going to let you torture him any longer,” yells the man alleged to be Parker, who accuses the residents of “torturing” the dog.
Throughout the video the man alleged to be Parker makes expletive laden threats while screaming for “my (expletive) dog”.
The video ends when police arrive and order the man to get on the ground.
Police prosecutor Joel Sleep told the court Parker had allegedly approached an 87-year-old woman on the Burleigh Heads Esplanade about 4.20am one day in October and snatched her dog, pulling the lead out of her hand.
At the time the Bulletin reported on a race against time to find the 14-year-old shih-tzu, Romi, which has a medical condition, and the joyful reunion with the family four days later after the dog was picked up 40km from home in Murwillumbah.
He said there was no evidence Parker had ever owned the dog.
Parker, who represented himself in court, said he agreed the video was “a bit full on”.
“I asked him to move his arm,” he said.
“I knew the blade would protrude to the other side of the door … I didn’t want to cause any harm.
“I am not into people who torture animals.”
There was no evidence before the court the dog had been tortured or harmed in anyway.
The court was told a mental health assessment of Parker found he needed further assessment to determine if he was suffering from a psychotic episode.
Magistrate Kay Philipson denied Parker bail.
“I am extremely concerned given the nature of the allegations and the ultimate charges which were viewed yesterday,” she said.
“There is a significant risk that you would endanger the welfare of the victims if released.”
Parker is expected to next appear in court on January 24.