A mentally unstable man accused of dousing himself and a car in petrol and attempting to stab a police dog during a stand-off at Wollongong Hospital last Sunday night has been identified in court as Sean Eric Hollis from Nowra.
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Hollis, 43, was arrested at 1.30am on Monday after an hour-long “volatile” siege at the hospital in which he repeatedly threatened to set himself and the car alight and used a vehicle to ram three police cars.
Wollongong Local Court on Thursday heard Hollis remained in hospital under heavy sedation amid concerns for his mental state.
Defence lawyer Cate Doosey sought a formal adjournment of the matter until next Wednesday, by which time she said it was hoped Hollis would be in a fit state to instruct Legal Aid about his case.
Hollis has been charged with 18 offences stemming from the incident, which allegedly began just before 9pm when a dog squad vehicle attempted to stop Hollis’ Ford Falcon on the Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail.
A pursuit was initiated, with police chasing the vehicle into the Wollongong CBD where it stopped a short distance from the hospital emergency department.
Hollis allegedly armed himself with a knife and doused the interior of the car, as well as himself, in petrol during the stand-off.
It is also alleged he kicked and attempted to stab the police dog at the scene, puncturing the animal’s ballistic vest.
Hollis was eventually apprehended after a short struggle with police.
It is alleged officers found Hollis in possession of several rounds of ammunition.
Magistrate Susan McGowan ordered that Hollis be seen by Justice Health while in custody.