Buff Point resident, William Kershaw, has been charged with multiple offences after allegedly assaulting two police officers attempting to arrest him.
At about 10:25pm on Tuesday, June 16, officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District were called to a home on Buff Point Ave, Buff Point, after reports of a domestic incident.
Upon arrival, police were approached by Kershaw, who allegedly became increasingly violent and resisted arrest.
A struggle ensued when the officers attempted to arrest Kershaw and Police say he spat in a male officer’s face, elbowed him and twisted his penis.
Police also allege a female officer was punched in the face several times before being dragged to the ground by her hair and choked.
A clump of hair was also allegedly ripped from her scalp.
Additional officers intervened and successfully arrested Kershaw, with both the injured officers and the accused taken to hospital for assessment.
Part of the incident was captured on the first responding officers’ body cameras and has since been released by NSW Police, sparking widespread condemnation from senior police, media and community members across the state.
Kershaw has since been charged with 13 offences and appeared at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, June 17.
Presiding Magistrate, Robert Stone, ruled in favour of the prosecution and refused bail.
He adjourned the case to Wyong Local Court for Thursday, June 25.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, has publicly condemned Kershaw’s behaviour and said that this was an appalling attack upon first responders.
“This is an inexcusable attack on two officers who were simply responding to a call out to protect members of our community following reports of a domestic incident,” Elliott said.
“Last week, I referred the issue of assaults against police officers to the Law and Safety Parliamentary Committee to seek a better understanding of community attitudes towards police as well as an assessment of whether current penalties and offences are sufficient in light of the disgusting assaults that have been reported recently.
“We want to work out what the motives and attitudes are behind these awful attacks.
“Thumping police is just not on,” he said.
Northern Region Commander, Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell, said that there’s never an excuse for assaulting an officer.
“These two officers were attending this location after receiving a call for help, as thousands of officers across NSW do every single day, and this is what greeted them,” AC Mitchell said.
“They were attacked, unprovoked, for simply doing their job.
“We are all thankful they only received minor injuries, and we will continue to monitor their welfare.
“I want to reiterate, violence against police officers and emergency services personnel is completely unacceptable, and we will continue to do all that we can to prosecute those responsible,” he added.
Tuggerah Lakes PD Commander, Superintendent John Gralton, said that both officers were recovering well but had been traumatised by the experience.
He went on to congratulate both officers on their conduct during the arrest as well as the other officers who supported them at the scene.
Supt Gralton also extended his thanks to the Central Coast community for all its support and well wishes since news of the incident broke.
Source:
Press release, Jun 16
NSW Police Media
Documents, Jun 17
NSW Department of Justice transcript and casefile: R v William Kershaw 2020/00178947
Interview, Jun 19
Supt John Gralton, Tuggerah Lakes PD
Reporter: Dilon Luke