A TEENAGER has denied some charges levelled against him after he allegedly struck police with his elbows during an attack which left two officers in hospital.
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Donald Sullivan, 19, appeared in Tamworth Local Court via video link from custody on Monday.
The teenager is set to front a hearing early next year after pleading not guilty to two counts of assaulting police and causing actual bodily harm; and one allegation of resisting an officer in the execution of their duty.
Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Gemma Ridley asked magistrate Julie Soars to set a hearing date for the three charges, which the court heard would be months away.
"Is there going to be an issue about search or unlawful arrest?" Ms Soars asked.
Ms Ridley said there would not be, and told the court the alleged assault was captured entirely on footage and the issues in the matter would be "fairly narrow".
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"Because of the COVID build up at the moment I don't have any hearing dates this side of Christmas," Ms Soars said.
She set the hour-long hearing down for January next year with Sullivan expected to front court in person.
"If the matter resolves earlier I will seek to relist it," Ms Ridley said.
During the case mention, Sullivan pleaded guilty to one charge of giving a false name to a police officer, which stemmed from the same alleged incident.
He made no application for bail and Ms Soars formally refused it, before explaining to the accused that was the end of his mention.
"Yep, righto, thank you," Sullivan replied.
Two Tamworth officers were taken to Tamworth hospital after the alleged assault on the night of July 23.
A 42-year-old woman was treated for a dislocated shoulder and a 25-year-old man was treated for a suspected broken hand, police said at the time.
Police claim a group of bystanders surrounded the officers while they were attempting to arrest Sullivan in West Tamworth and were injured after repeatedly being hit from behind.
The court heard on a previous occasion that there may have been up to to 15 people in the group and Sullivan is alleged to have lashed out at police with his elbows.
The police case is that leading up to the alleged incident, Sullivan was a backseat passenger in a Holden Commodore that was stopped for a random breath test on Sue Crescent, in West Tamworth, about 8:30pm.
Officers spoke to him, but allege he refused to give them his correct details before getting out of the car and running away.
The two officers gave chase and stopped Sullivan before a struggle ensued.
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