A MILLICENT man charged with assaulting a police officer and engaging in a police pursuit last week was refused bail in court yesterday.
Aaron Elias Lloyd, 29, appeared in the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court and made an application for home detention bail after a report was ordered late last week.
The prosecution opposed home detention bail, highlighting the allegations as serious.
The court heard a number of police had set up a vehicle checking station on Jubilee Highway on August 16.
When they tried to stop the black Holden sedan, the driver slowed down before accelerating away from the station at speed.
One police officer recognised Lloyd as the driver and a police pursuit began.
Police terminated the pursuit after two kilometres because the car was travelling at speeds of 110kph in a 60kph zone.
Checks revealed the registration plates had been stolen.
Police attended at the defendant’s home and saw Lloyd exit the back door, however when he noticed police he returned inside.
The prosecution said when a police officer entered the premises Lloyd grabbed the man by the vest with the intention to strike him.
A struggle ensued, which ended with Lloyd receiving minor injuries to the head, requiring treatment.
Police searched the defendant and found a key to the vehicle involved in the police pursuit.
Enquiries led the police to a warehouse in Snuggery where the car and registration plates were located.
Firearm ammunition was also found following a search of the address where the defendant was arrested.
When he was interviewed by police, he declined to answer questions.
The defendant’s lawyer said his client strongly denied being the driver of the car and the alleged assault.
Instead Lloyd claimed he was set upon by police, resulting in the injuries that required treatment.
Magistrate Anderson said there was a presumption in favour of bail, however the alleged offending was too serious to grant home detention bail.
“I do not consider home detention bail can address the risks of re-offending,” Magistrate Anderson said.
She also cited the circumstantial evidence, which formed a seemingly strong prosecution case.
Lloyd was remanded in custody until a pre-trial conference on October 9.
