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A man who crashed his car drunk and assaulted a police officer has been granted an immediate conditional discharge at Moreton Bay Crown Court.
The driver, Curtis Owen, pleaded guilty to nine offences, including spitting on a police officer, assaulting two officers and obstructing a firefighter who was first on the scene.
A police officer was filmed punching the offending driver before using a Taser during the arrest following a three-vehicle crash in Strathpine last June.
Owen was caught on film driving through an intersection without stopping before hitting two vehicles waiting at a traffic light.
Footage from a police body camera was presented as evidence showing Owen spitting at the officer and kicking him so hard the camera fell.
9News requested a copy of that video, but the court refused to release it until full arguments from Owen’s attorneys were heard
Bystanders filmed the officer punching Owen before using a taser during the arrest.
The court heard the man had 0.18 blood alcohol, more than three times the legal limit, and was still drinking from a bottle of wine after the crash.
The man’s lawyer told the court that Owen had been drinking heavily following the sudden death of his friend.
The court also heard that Owen had a criminal history including dangerous driving, drug dealing and one offense in 2016 for assaulting a police officer.
Owen was ordered to pay the officer $750 for pain and suffering caused by his spitting and an additional $500 in fines.
He was sentenced by the magistrate to 15 months in prison, but was immediately released on parole.
An internal police investigation into the officer’s actions is ongoing.
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