A man accused of throwing what was suspected to be petrol at police during a stand-off at his Wollongong home has been granted strict conditional bail in court.
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Clague William Cowin, 48, is alleged to have verbally abused police before spraying them with a liquid substance through a hole in the door of his Crown Street unit on the evening of May 4.
Officers had attended the location after receiving a call a short time earlier from Cowin's partner, who claimed he was self-harming and spraying petrol around the house.
Responding officers said they believed the liquid being sprayed at them was petrol as they could smell the substance when they arrived at Cowin's house. However it is understood it turned out to be water.
Nevertheless, Cowin's actions elicited a dramatic response from police, who evacuated the building and called in firefighters to be stationed near officers who had been exposed to the liquid in case it ignited.
Court documents said Cowin refused to open the door and come out of the unit, prompting police to bring in specialist officers attached to the State Protections Support Unit in anticipation of having to force entry to the home. Meantime, police allege another male inside the home began yelling at them to "stop antagonising the situation".
The man eventually opened the door, allowing firefighters inside to check the unit for the presence of petrol, but none was found.
The man allegedly told police Cowin had jumped out the kitchen window moments earlier and was heading for the roof, however he was discovered hiding in the kitchen when officers searched the house.
He was taken to Wollongong police station where he was charged with assaulting police.
Magistrate Susan McGowan agreed to release Cowin in court on Tuesday despite objections from police, who said they were concerned about the risk he posed to the community.
As part of his release, Cowin must live with his parents in Wollongong and report to Shellharbour Hospital for a mental health assessment within three days.
He was also banned from owning or having any contact with dogs over a separate incident in which he was allegedly filmed physically abusing a Staffordshire Bull Terrier in February. Both sets of charges will return to court on July 14.
