A MAN who allegedly assaulted police in a "planned attack" has been released on bail.
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Stawell's Glen Randall, 38, appeared in Horsham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, charged with multiple counts of assault against two police officers.
He did not enter a plea.
The court heard that Randall and his co-accused Talitha Laine Nolen were at the Stawell IGA on August 13.
The pair walked past two police officers and allegedly made derogatory comments.
Police warned the pair not to swear in the supermarket.
Later, while in line for the registers, witnesses overheard the pair allegedly saying they wanted to "punch the coppers in the head".
Outside the supermarket, Randall approached the officers and a scuffle broke out.
Police informant Sergeant Shane Allgood said Randall allegedly started yelling at one police officer and the other officer pushed him away.
He said a fight then broke out with Randall allegedly throwing punches at the officer.
He said Nolen flung her arms about and allegedly struck one officer in the face.
Randall was overpowered and taken to the ground.
The officer then released Randall, to help the other police officer, who was struggling to overpower Nolen.
Sergeant Allgood said at the time of the incident the supermarket and the car park were full of people.
He said both police officers were injured - one officer had bruising, a split lip and a loose tooth, while the other had a broken thumb.
In a police interview, Randall alleged the police attacked him and called him a rat.
The prosecutor presented statements from 11 witnesses to the court.
Magistrate Andrew McKenna said most witnesses described the incident as an altercation, struggle or scuffle.
The prosecution alleged it was a "planned attack".
"People don't berate police in the supermarket unless they have a violent personality," Sergeant Allgood said.
"If people are trying to engage police in that way, police are obliged to act.
"There were people working in the supermarket - there were children there as well."
Defence lawyer Nick Graham questioned how Randall and Nolen and the officers came to be together in the car park.
He said the police left the supermarket before the pair, and they were parked at opposite ends of the car park.
Sergeant Allgood believed the officers put their groceries in the car and were walking back to return their trolley when Randall approached them.
"Randall allegedly started berating one officer and the other jumped in because he was concerned for her safety," he said.
Mr Graham said if police had left the car park straight away, the incident wouldn't have happened.
Mr Graham also argued that there was no evidence of how exactly the police officers got injured.
"There are great differences in every witness statement," he said.
He said Randall had metal plates in his head from a previous car accident and the incident with police had dislodged one plate, causing vision issues and migraines.
Mr McKenna said it wasn't a straight-forward incident.
"This is not an overwhelming case," he said.
He released Randall on bail with strict conditions.
Nolen was released on bail at a previous court appearance.
Randall and Nolen will reappear in Stawell Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.
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