Police officer allegedly stabbed in the chin with syringe

A police officer was carrying out a welfare check on a male “threatening self-harm” when he was stabbed in the chin with a syringe in Rangeway, a court has been told. The accused, 48-year-old Robert James Ryan, fronted Geraldton Magistrate’s Court on January 17 and had his bail refused. The victim, a male senior constable was searching a Hardman Road home on December 29 when he found Mr Ryan hiding in a closet under a pile of clothes. It is alleged Mr Ryan then lunged at the officer and stabbed him with enough force to cause two puncture wounds. “The syringe fully penetrated the chin up to the plastic casing,” prosecuting Sen. Const. Beau Jones told the court. Though police were equipped with body-worn cameras at the time, the attack happened so suddenly it was not recorded. Mr Ryan was charged with “assaulting a public officer and occasioning bodily harm while armed with a weapon”, but has yet to enter a plea. Six days earlier, he was placed on a suspended imprisonment order for other offences including assault, the court was told. His lawyer Xavier Sellathambu applied for bail with strict conditions, including a 24-hour curfew, but Magistrate Chris Miocevich refused to grant it. “If I was going to consider bail, at the very least I would have to hear from the people he wants to stay with,” Mr Miocevich said. “I would need to speak to them myself and satisfy myself that they would be able to look after Mr Ryan.” Mr Miocevich said Mr Ryan had “a number of mental health issues” and was a threat to the public, police and himself. “On this night in question it sounds as though you were suffering from an episode of some sort,” he said. “I’ve got real concerns whether there’s any conditions I could impose to prevent re-offending.” Mr Ryan was remanded in custody at Greenough Regional Prison and is due to reappear later this week.