Victoria Police officer knocked unconscious
Herald Sun
December 9, 2015 5:21pm
Travis Miller has been granted bail. Picture: FACEBOOK
A THUG who knocked unconscious a police officer with a haymaker punch and later boasted to others on social media has been granted bail.
Travis Miller, 33, pleaded guilty to intentionally cause injury to one officer and assaulting and resisting another at the Australian Supercross Championship on Saturday.
The Sunshine Magistrates’ Court heard that security had asked the officers to kick out a group of drunken friends, including Miller, from the event’s VIP area.
When the officers later saw Miller and a mate outside the arena, he hit the 55-year-old acting sergeant with a haymaker-style punch to the temple.
He was then involved in a “scuffle” with a younger constable, who attempted to detain him.
A bleeding Miller broke free and fled the scene.
The injured acting sergeant was left with blurred vision, severe swelling, nausea and dizziness and is not expected to return to full work duties for a number of weeks.
Police executed a search warrant yesterday to seize Mr Miller’s phone, which included text and Facebook messages discussing the attack.
Travis Miller, who punched a police officer. Picture: FACEBOOK
Miller sent his brother, who worked at the event, a message on Sunday that read: ‘I warned the c**t. F**k him. Sorry if anything comes back on you.”
He told another friend yesterday: “I really don’t know what to do. I’m making myself sick from worry and regret.”
Magistrate Richard Pithouse described the attack as cowardly and unprovoked.
“As is often the case, the accused in these cricrumstances has taken on the appearance of a thug because of the excessive drinking he had engaged in,” he said.
“I note that there is no remorse in regard to the victim. It is purely regret (for the situation) that he finds himself in.”
In a statement to the court, the injured acting sergeant said he felt a “white numbing flash” when he was hit.
After he regained consciousness, he “could feel what felt like blood, it was warm and running down the side of my face, hair line and ear.
“I couldn’t really understand but I knew I was hurt.
“I have (been) left shaken by the experience, whilst I consider myself emotionally robust I feel rocked by what I consider to be a significant assault and I am still quite depressed by the incident.”
Miller’s wife cried “oh no” when her husband was handed a six-month jail term - the mandatory minimum for injuring an emergency service worker.
Miller lodged an appeal hours after the sentence and was bailed.
Solicitor Jessie Smith said the father of two, including a two-month-old baby, had pleaded guilty and was remorseful.
“He wanted to acknowledge his wrongdoing immediately,” she said.
“He acted in a way that he is catastrophically ashamed by.”
Victoria Police Association secretary Ron Iddles was shocked by the attack.
“Violence levelled towards police is at a level that we have not seen in the past,” Mr Iddles said.
Our members come to work every day to protect the community and they deserve to go back home to their families in one piece,” he said.
“We are not only concerned with the increased violence shown towards our members, but also the frequency with which it seems to occur.”