Man launched assault on security officer after refusing to wear face mask
Lismore AU April 2 2021 A man has been charged after he allegedly refused to wear a face mask at a shopping centre and then attacked a security guard, police officers and members of the public in northern NSW on Thursday.
Police say the 47-year-old entered a shopping centre in Lismore about 12.40pm without a face mask, which is in breach of the Public Health Order that requires masks to be worn in all indoor places.
Lismore is among the areas in northern NSW affected by new COVID-19 restrictions after a local case was identified in Byron Bay on Wednesday.
Police say the man was stopped by a security guard. The man then allegedly punched the security guard in the face and head multiple times.
When members of the public tried to intervene, the man resisted and allegedly began punching several people in the face and chest. A male bystander suffered bruising to his neck and face.
Police officers from Richmond Police District arrested the man, who then allegedly kicked a male senior constable in the face, chest and hands.
The officers used pepper spray to control the man, but he continued to resist and repeatedly tried to kick them.
After a brief struggle, the man was arrested and taken to Lismore Police Station, where he allegedly bit a male senior constable several times on the hand and wrist.
Police used pepper spray again to detain the man. The injured officer was taken to Lismore Base Hospital for treatment.
The man was charged with two counts of common assault, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of resisting an officer executing their duty, assaulting an officer executing their duty, affray, assaulting a police officer executing their duty causing actual bodily harm, destroying or damaging property and a detention application.
He was also issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with the Public Health Order.
The man was refused bail to appear at Lismore Bail Court on Friday.
