Man tasered after attack on police car
A FORKLIFT driver attacked a police car with a metal menu stand, smashing the window leaving police covered in glass.
Police were only able to stop Richard James Brown by tasering him as he headed towards the mall in Broadbeach on February 10 last year.
Brown called being tasered an “unpleasant experience”.
He pleaded guilty in the Southport Magistrates Court to serious assault police and wilful damage of police property.
The court heard on Wednesday his rampage caused $7000 damage to the police car.
Magistrate Grace Kahlert sentenced Brown to a head sentence of six months prison with immediate parole release.
“You should be remorseful – it was disgraceful offending,” Magistrate Kahlert told Brown.
“It would have been a terrifying experience for the police sitting in that driver’s seat.”
Brown had spent two months in custody after it.
Prosecutor Chris Freeman said Brown swung the stand at a police car while in Broadbeach. He said police drew the taser when he refused to stop.
Defence lawyer Danielle Heable, of Dib & Associates, said Brown was in the midst of a psychotic episode: “The conduct is unusual and he was tasered which he instructs was a very unpleasant experience.”
At the time of the attack Brown was unemployed and homeless.
Ms Heable said Brown was now medicated, seeing doctors, and a forklift driver.
She tendered to the court a letter of remorse from Brown.
He said outside court: “It was disgraceful and I apologise for my actions.”