Man charged over assault on council CEO

By Jeremy Sollars

A man has been charged by the Warwick Police after assaulting the chief executive officer of the Southern Downs Regional Council David Keenan yesterday, Wednesday 26 February.

The Free Times understands the man attended the front counter of the council offices in Warwick in company with a female person and began verbally abusing the customer service staff over a dog-related matter.

Mr Keenan happened to enter the foyer accompanied by the District Police Inspector with whom it is understood Mr Keenan and Mayor Tracy Dobie had been meeting upstairs in the council administration building a short time earlier.

The man is believed to have lunged at Mr Keenan and assaulted him, drawing a small amount of blood and tearing Mr Keenan’s shirt. It is understood it took up to four people to restrain the man who was detained until more police arrived and arrested him. He was taken to the Warwick watchhouse where he was later charged with common assault, obstructing police and public nuisance.

He was later released from custody and is due to appear in the Warwick Magistrates Court on March 25.