Officer `bashed' tourists
06.07.2009
By: Tony Koch
A FORMER Queensland police officer has been committed for trial on six charges of assaulting three tourists at Airlie Beach in Queensland, one of whom he allegedly told, ``this is my town''.
Closed-circuit television footage from security cameras in a police station at Airlie Beach allegedly shows former senior constable Benjamin Thomas Price, 32, swinging a woman around by her hair, slamming her body into the ground and then kneeing her in the spine and holding her while she was ``patted down'' by two female police officers.
Renee Toms, 22, who weighs 47kg, was holidaying at the Whitsundays resort town in May last year when she was taken into custody and allegedly assaulted.
Proserpine Magistrates Court was also told Mr Price had arrested a young male tourist, assaulted him by punching and kicking, and ``nearly drowned'' him by shoving a fire hose into his mouth. That footage was also captured on CCTV.
After a police internal affairs investigation into the allegations of assault, Mr Price resigned from the police service.
CCTV footage also allegedly shows Mr Price bending Ms Toms over a counter and jamming the handcuffs behind her back, to a point level with her shoulder blades.
Other allegations against Mr Price include that he punched NSW tourist Timothy David Steele, 24, outside the Airlie Beach watchhouse, saying as he did so: ``You think you're tough -- this is my town.''
Nigel Gluszek told the court he saw Mr Price punch Mr Steele, and did not recognise his friend in a police cell the next morning because of the injuries and swelling to his face.
Mr Steele had suffered two black eyes, a broken nose and loss of hearing and memory.
The officer had arrested the two friends for fighting outside a nightclub.
Mr Price has been committed to stand trial in the Bowen District Court on a date to be fixed. He has pleaded not guilty to six charges of assault occasioning bodily harm. His defence is being paid for by the Queensland Police Union.
