Lincoln Berkley Thomas: Rudds Gully man locked up after allegedly lighting fires during ban, assaulting police

A man who allegedly lit fires on his semirural property during a total fire ban, letting them get out of control, and then assaulted a police officer had his bail refused in court. Lincoln Berkley Thomas, 47, appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday from Greenough Regional Prison, facing allegations he lit scrub fires at his Rudds Gully property during a total fire ban and failed to control them. The court was told that on Saturday, December 16 at about 4pm Mr Thomas was at his property off Brand Highway when he lit fires on the side of the property. Due to strong winds, the blaze picked up and spread to nearby bushland, moving towards the suburb of Wandina. The court was told a witness noticed the blaze, attempted to fight it and contacted emergency services. When police arrived, Mr Thomas allegedly hit a police officer in the face. He is charged with failing to reasonably ensure that fire/ignition source did/would not cause a fire that could not be controlled, obstructing police, assault public officer and disorderly behaviour in a police station. Magistrate Angus Hockton said Mr Thomas seemed to be distracted and didn’t recognise the seriousness of the charges. His bail application was formally refused and the case was adjourned until Thursday, February 8.