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QLD: Four charged with assaulting police


05 Apr 2009 2:31 PM

BRISBANE, April 5 AAP - Four men have been charged with assaulting or obstructing police in two separate incidents in Queensland.

Three men were charged after a police officer was allegedly punched in the face by a 36-year-old man while the officer was helping to evict a patron from the Emerald Hotel in central Queensland at 1.10am (AEST).

When the police officer tried to arrest the man he fell to the ground.

An 18-year-old man then allegedly grabbed and dragged the officer by his shirt before a 49-year-old man stood between the officer and the other two men to allegedly prevent an arrest.

Other police arrived at the scene and arrested the 49-year-old and the 18-year-old before arresting the 36-year-old at an Emerald address a short time later.

The injured police officer was taken to hospital for treatment to a cut lip, bruising to his eye and grazes to his nose, cheek and chin.

Police charged the 36-year-old with serious assault of a police officer and obstruct police, the 18-year-old was charged with serious assault of police and wilful damage and the 49-year-old was charged with obstruct police.

They will all appear in the Emerald Magistrates Court on April 28.

Meanwhile a 26-year-old Gold Coast man will face Southport Magistrates Court on Monday charged with serious assault after he spat in the faces of three police officers on a Surfers Paradise street corner.

At 3.25am (AEST) on Sunday when three officers tried to break up a brawl between a number of people on the corner of Ferny and Elkhorn Avenue, the man allegedly spat on the faces and clothes of the three officers.