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Stuart D. BATESON
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(Click Here for Enlarged Photo)
Award: Valour Award
Year: 1991
Type of Incident: Overcoming an assailant
Station: Moonee Ponds DSG
Rank: Constable
Reg No: 26242

Incident Details:

On 11 September 1991, at about 8.45 a.m., a woman discovered an offender tampering with cars in the Essendon Railway Station carpark off Rose Street. She attempted to approach him but was warned off when he brandished a screwdriver. The woman then took flight. Another person present rang the police. Constables Hogan and Cattermole responded.

On arriving at Rose Street, the constables caught sight of the offender and chased him on foot. During the pursuit, the offender discarded a plastic bag containing a stolen car radio. Despite the constables’ efforts, the offender eluded them.

After the chase, the offender entered the rear yard of a house in Rose Street and hid in a garden shed. Not long afterwards, the owner of the house, a 70-year-old man, arrived home. Approaching him, the offender convinced the older man to let him into the house. Once in the house, the offender found a claw hammer and threatened him, demanding money. The victim struggled with the offender and was hit on the arm. The old man was then bound and gagged before his home was ransacked for money and clothing. The offender was also able to find a Browning pistol and ammunition.

Realising a neighbour has seen him with the old man, the offender quickly left the property. He ran into the rear of a house in Edward Street where he again hid in a shed and fell asleep. The elderly victim was eventually released by the neighbour.

The offender had been noticed loitering around the address in Edward Street and the police were called. Constables Hogan and Cattermole again attended. It was now half past three in the afternoon. The constables saw the offender run into the rear yard of the address Edward Street. They gave chase with the offender going to the rear fence. Cattermole raced down one side of the house and was confronted by the offender who has pulled out the Browning, pointing it at Cattermole’s chest. He then made Cattermole turn around and march out to the front yard. The gun was aimed at the officer’s back. The offender then escaped down a laneway off Edward Street.

By this time, Constable Bateson had arrived on the scene and was soon checking the backyards of the houses and flats in the area. Bateson discovered the offender in the street behind Edward Street. Showing his identification badge, Bateson ordered the offender not to move. The offender, nervous and rambling, asked what he had done. He attempted to climb the laneway fence behind him. Bateson replied that the offender was under arrest for pointing a gun at a police officer. Bateson grabbed the offender with his left hand while putting his identification badge back into his pocket.

Still climbing the fence, the offender was now above Bateson. The constable caught the offender with both hands and swung him down and into the fence opposite. The fence collapsed under the offender's weight and both men fell. A violent struggle ensued as both the offender and Bateson tried to stand. Blows were exchanged with Bateson being struck in the stomach, chest and head. Bateson retaliated with blows to the offender’s torso.

First to his feet, the offender raced over the collapsed fence into the backyard of a house in Richardson Street. Bateson soon caught him near an above-ground swimming pool by tackling Hastings from behind. Forcing the offender against the side of the pool, Bateson tried to keep the offender’s hands away from his pockets, fearing the Browning may still be in the offender’s possession. Bateson yelled for assistance as the fist fight between them continued.

They fell again and, as the two men tried to stand, the offender grabbed a lump of concrete from underneath the pool steps. Bateson clutched the offender’s arm while the offender yelled threats and abuse. Bateson managed to keep the offender from hitting him with the concrete until assistance arrived.

Two members burst into the backyard, guns drawn. They called for the offender to surrender. Despite continuing to strike out, the offender was eventually overpowered and handcuffed. A screwdriver was found in his underwear but no gun was located. It was later found in the backyard of an address in Edward Street.

 

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