Gungahlin Place scuffle allegedly escalated into repeated assault on police

A 35-year-old man has been taken to hospital after an alleged incident on the light rail. Photo: Region.

It is alleged that after committing an indecent assault on the Canberra light rail, a man repeatedly attacked the police officers who had been trying to break up a fight in Gungahlin.

ACT Policing said officers were on patrol when they allegedly saw two men involved in a minor scuffle at Gungahlin Place around 3 pm on Thursday (27 July) and separated the pair.

However, it is then alleged that one of the men, a 35-year-old from Palmerston, began to repeatedly punch an officer in the face and head.

More police were called to the scene and arrested the man.

But as he was being placed into a caged police car, it is alleged he lashed out, kicking an officer in the chest and neck.

He was charged over these allegations as well as over an earlier alleged incident when he had been travelling on the light rail, for which he has been handed an act of indecency charge.

Chief Police Officer Neil Gaughan said officers and all first responders should be able to do their jobs safely.

“Police in the ACT are there to keep the community safe,” he said.

“Please consider your actions and allow my officers to return to their homes and families, safe and well at the end of each shift.”

The 35-year-old man appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (28 July), when Magistrate Jane Campbell told him she would send him to hospital for a mental health assessment before he was formally handed his charges.

The man, who Region has chosen not to name while the assessment takes place, will appear in court again at a later date.

The charges he faces include four counts of assault and one count of committing an act of indecency without consent.