A man faces a raft of charges after he allegedly attacked three police officers while being brought under arrest at Cringila.
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Jarred Short, 27, of Bellambi, was taken into custody in dramatic style on Monteith Street on Monday morning.
Patrolling police came across him inside a car about 10am. Their interest was piqued when his female companion allegedly ran from the car.
As one officer gave chase, the other allegedly spotted weapons including a machete inside the car, within Short’s reach.
The officer also recognised Short was wanted on an outstanding warrant.
Police allege he struggled, growing increasingly violent, as he was removed from the car. The second officer and the woman returned, and all four then grappled, with the woman allegedly trying to release Short from an officer’s grasp.
Police equipment including a body-worn camera fell from the officers during the struggle and the woman allegedly kicked and damaged some items, and threw others over a nearby fence.
Short appeared before Wollongong Local Court on Tuesday, after he was assessed by the mental health court liaison officer.
The court heard Short had expressed concerns about coming into contact with members of the Finks outlaw motorcycle club.
Short’s lawyer, Matteo Russionello, told the court: “there is genuine fear there, which has been expressed to me by [the mental health officer] but also by Mr Short himself”.
“[The officer] has recommended that he be seen by a psychiatrist in jail. He told me that in his view, [Short] is suffering from paranoia.”
Magistrate Susan McGowan endorsed a warrant intended to keep Short “away from any member of the Finks outlaw motorcycle gang” while he is in custody.
Short faces five charges stemming from Monday’s encounter, including three counts of assaulting a police officer and possessing a prohibited drug, allegedly the prescription opioid buprenoxphine.
Short is also accused of using an offensive weapon to prevent being apprehended.
He did not apply for bail in court on Tuesday and bail was formally refused.
Short was charged earlier this year with having custody of a knife in a Warrawong street. He was convicted in his absence and was wanted for that offence when police encountered him on Tuesday. All matters return to court on November 6.
Short’s co-accused faces charges of malicious damage, hindering police, intimidating a police officer and larceny.
She has been granted bail, to appear at Wollongong Local Court November 13.