By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An man has been refused bail after allegedly impersonating a Dandenong-based police member with the same name to threaten his own ex-partner and her friend.
The 33-year-old took photos of the unsuspecting family violence unit officer’s identity card and badge while being served a full family-violence intervention order, police told Dandenong Magistrate’s Court on 24 September.
After the encounter, he rang his ex-partner on a private number, the court heard.
The man claimed to be the police officer who shared his name, and that she was under arrest, remand liaison officer Sergeant Chris Marlow told the hearing.
The man repeated the threat by text message, adding “get on the ground, stay down, stop resisting”, according to police.
Then followed further private number calls and Facebook messages.
In one, the man claimed he was going to take a “box of pills”, the court heard.
He had recently threatened her that if she was seeing anyone, he would break the “f***ing c***’s legs”.
On a private number, the man allegedly called the ex-partner’s friend. Pretending to be the police member, he told the victim to “get down on the ground, c***”, Sgt Marlow said.
“Stay away from (the ex-partner).”
He later sent the victim a photograph of the police member’s waist band kit including his gun, holster, badge and photo, police alleged.
In a police interview, the man denied impersonating the officer, the court heard.
He initially denied he had the offending photos before he showed them on his phone to police, the court heard.
Sgt Marlow said the man’s “unpredictable” behaviour and “complete lack of respect” for the intervention order was of “serious concern”.
“If he was placed on bail, it would place the victim and her daughter at risk of repercussions.”
The man from Officer had had just been released from serving 14 months jail for family violence against the same ex-partner, the court heard.
His previous convictions included failing to stop a vehicle despite police directions, burglary, breaching bail and resisting police.
Since being released from jail, his mental state had “deteriorated”, defence lawyer Bridie O’Malley said.
If bailed, the man would be taken straight to Dandenong Hospital mental-health ward.
He offended soon after being discharged from a seven-day stint in hospital, seemingly after failing to follow his “treatment schedule”.
His landlord had since revoked the man’s tenancy, the court heard.
Magistrate Pauline Spencer ordered for a Forensicare psychiatrist to liaise with custody staff to ensure the man was correctly medicated while in custody.
She refused bail due to the unacceptable risk of reoffending, and of endangering the victim and the public.
The prosecution case was “straight-forward” and “strong”, she said.
“The safety of the victim is very important.”
The man was remanded to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 9 October.
