Geraldton father Edward Milton Hansen avoids jail for assaulting three cops at daughter’s rowdy 21st party

A Geraldton father hosting a 21st birthday party for his daughter assaulted three police officers when the celebration spiralled out of control and attempted to “incite” revellers to riot. Edward Milton Hansen has been sentenced over the incident after appearing in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court last week. He pleaded guilty to disorderly behaviour and failing to comply with an order relating to an out-of-control gathering. The court was told Hansen had previously notified police he was intending to hold the 21st birthday party for his daughter at his Utakarra home on January 4. But at 1.30am the next day, police arrived at the property after complaints from neighbours about fighting in the street and excessive noise. Prosecutor Sgt Andre Ramsden said Hansen was immediately hostile and aggressive towards officers, demanding that they leave, and refusing to shut down the party. “Officers then dressed in protective riot gear in the event they were met with violence,” he said. The party was declared an out-of-control gathering and police moved in to break up the group. “Eight police officers entered the yard in an attempt to disperse the crowd,” Sgt Ramsden said. “During the incident the accused assaulted three officers and incited the crowd to act aggressively.” Hansen hit an officer over the head with a glass bottle and threw another at the head of a different officer. He rushed at a third officer, punching him in the head twice. Sgt Ramsden said police left the scene to avoid escalating the situation and returned about 4am to arrest Hansen. Defence lawyer Anthony Eyers told the court the incident occurred in the context of the shooting death of a young woman by police in September 2019. “Unfortunately, he was heavily intoxicated and full of grief about the situation. Anger emerged when the police arrived,” he said. The 44-year-old was handed a six-month jail term suspended for six months the week before in the District Court after pleading guilty to three counts of assault public officer. In the Magistrate’s Court, Hansen received a fine of $1500 and was ordered to pay court costs of $344.40.