BLOODY ARREST
Cop loses tips of fingers chasing wanted man
A POLICE officer lost the tips of two fingers yesterday during the violent arrest of a fugitive.
Convicted armed robber Kasie Richard Clifford Rice ( pictured) had been on the run since June 15 when he was tracked by police to a Kelso address yesterday afternoon.
Police said Rice rammed a police vehicle crushing and severing the male senior constable’s fingers.
Rice was expected to be charged last night before facing court today.
A MANHUNT for convicted armed robber Kasie Richard Clifford Rice ended in a violent arrest during which a tactical police officer had the tips of two fingers severed.
The alleged cop basher had been on the run since June 15, when he left his court- ordered rehab facility and cut off a GPS tracking ankle bracelet.
Police had Rice cornered at Supercheap Auto Deeragun last Wednesday but he escaped by assaulting an officer, then fled in a 4WD after ramming another vehicle.
The Townsville Bulletin understands Special Emergency Response Team officers had been scouring the area for Rice over the past few days and pounced on him at the home of a known associate on Riverway Dr at Kelso at about 1.50pm yesterday.
Townsville Police District Acting Chief Superintendent Steve Munro said that during the arrest Rice rammed a police vehicle.
A male senior constable’s fingers got stuck between the vehicles and his fingertips were crushed and cut off.
Rice had been required to stay at a rehab centre and wear a GPS tracker device as part of a three- year parole order he was serving after pleading guilty in May to smashing a man’s head with a tyre iron, armed robbery and more than 30 other offences in- cluding assault police and illegal possession of a shotgun and 22- calibre handgun. A return to prison warrant was issued when his GPS tracker was removed.
Acting Chief Supt Munro described Rice as a “violent and motivated offender”.
He thanked officers for their dedication to the task and offered prayers and thoughts for the injured officer’s recovery.
Acting Chief Supt Munro said Rice had a lengthy criminal history and was “known to be a standover merchant”.
“He has been before the courts for numerous offences … he is an extremely dangerous and violent offender and he has been returned to custody,” he said.
Acting Chief Supt Munro said his release was a matter for the courts and corrective services and police would investigate any offences committed while he was on the loose.
“We wish this didn’t have to happen and we wish that the community could feel safe and remain safe without people like Kasie Rice out there in our community,” he said.
“We come to work every day expecting to return home to our families at the end of a shift.”
Rice was taken to Townsville Hospital for the treatment of minor injuries and was expected to be charged overnight before facing court today.
Neighbours reported a loud bang around the time of Tuesday’s arrest.
The Bulletin understands Rice had been sighted in Vincent earlier on Tuesday morning.