The case was heard before Griffith Local Court last week. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
A former Griffith police officer accused of assaulting a man while on duty has had his charges dismissed following a successful mental health application in court.
The charges related to an incident in August 2024, when the officer was on active duty responding with colleagues to reports of a disturbance at a residence in south Griffith. Police had received conflicting information that a man inside the home may have been armed with a knife and that a hostage situation was possible.
According to the agreed facts of the case, the man was apprehended by police, handcuffed and taken to the rear of the residence.
The court heard the officer swore at the handcuffed man and directed him to sit down. The man then allegedly kicked the officer, striking him in the right leg.
The officer then struck the handcuffed man once to the face, pulled him to his feet and escorted him to a police vehicle.
The incident was subject to an internal police investigation, which resulted in the officer being charged with two counts of common assault and one count of behaving in an offensive manner in a public place.
The now former officer, who is no longer employed by NSW Police, was represented by a solicitor at a Griffith Local Court hearing on Friday (27 February).
The solicitor lodged a Section 14 application under mental health legislation, which allows a magistrate to divert matters away from the criminal justice system and discharge a defendant into the care of a responsible person if certain criteria are met.
Magistrate Pauline Wright granted the application, dismissing the charges and discharging the officer on the condition that he comply with a mental health treatment plan presented to the court.
Unfortunately, submissions close tomorrow but the consultation paper provides the proof of how much… View