Woman on bond after kneeing cop

20th November 2009

A 20-YEAR-OLD woman spent a few hours in the Ipswich watchhouse after kneeing a police officer who tried to arrest her.

Police arrived at the North Ipswich Reserve as a fight had broken out in the car park between spectators after the Ipswich Rugby League A grade semi-final on August 23.

Ipswich Magistrates Court was told that while the crowd was dispersing, police saw Amy Lee Joyce Townsend swearing so grabbed her arm to arrest her for committing a public nuisance.

Prosecutor Constable Tazania Lynch said the Collingwood Park woman kneed the male officer in the thigh. While police continued to attempt an arrest, Townsend grabbed another person and refused to let go.

“She continued to kick out with her hands and feet,” Cnst Lynch said.

Townsend pleaded guilty to committing a public nuisance, obstructing a police officer and assaulting a police officer.

Defence lawyer Bradley Munt said Townsend was not involved in the melee but had intervened to stop a man bashing her friend’s head into a car.

Mr Munt said the 20-year-old was distressed and her swearing brought her to the attention of police.

But when officers tried to arrest her she simply did not know what was happening.

Magistrate Matthew McLaughlin told Townsend he accepted her actions were out of character in putting her on a $300 good behaviour bond for nine months.