Resisting arrest after threatening a council ranger has landed one man with a prison sentence in the community, 50 hours community service, and an order to take anger management programs.
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Jarrard Johnson, 29, fronted Inverell Local Court charged with attempt to stalk and intimidate, and resisting police officers after his dog was impounded in Bingara.
On April 23, Johnson rang up a council ranger angry and upset after receiving a notice that his "best mate" had been impounded.
The Gwydir Shire Council ranger had impounded the dog four days earlier, after being told it was causing traffic disruptions near Allan Cunningham Bridge.
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Police statements tendered to court said Johnson made threats to harm the ranger, saying: "I'm going to show you c*** when you f*** with my family. That dog is my family".
"I'm going to stab you c***", he said at one point.
Fearing for his safety, the ranger notified the general manager, and the office building was placed into lockdown until the police arrived.
Officers found Johnson with a dog chain in his hand, "tense", and said they saw his body language indicating he was prepared for a fight.
"I will f**ing knock youse both out," Johnson said to them.
The officers tasered Johnson before handcuffing him and placing him under arrest.
"I do find the offences really quite concerning ... his reaction really quite concerning," Magistrate Holly Kemp said to Johnson's ALS solicitor Farid El-Idrissi.
Mr El-Idrissi said his client had anger management issues "for as long as he could remember", and while they'd gone down the path to request medical material to seek a mental health redirection away from the criminal court, attempts had not been successful.
He said Johnson admitted he "overacted", and while not condoning the behaviour, said his client went through a "significant amount of stress" when he found out his pet, "more like a family member", had been impounded.
"There was a 'significant amount of stress' on [the victim] and the police who attended," Magistrate Holly Kemp hit back.
"Notwithstanding what happened to your dog ... the ranger was trying to help get your best mate away from that situation - people like council rangers and the police don't need to be subjected to that kind of wild behaviour," she said.
He was convicted for the intimidate charge and placed on a supervised, nine-month intensive corrections order, with the requirement he complete 50 hours of community service.
For resisting the police, he was again convicted and placed on a nine-month intensive corrections order, with the condition he undergo rehab and treatment for his anger and emotion management.
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