A dramatic confrontation in Annerley between police and a man acting erratically resulted in a police officer being shot and the man being critically injured.
The incident occurred on Friday morning when police were called to a home on Tamar Street in Annerley following reports of a man trespassing and behaving strangely.
The Confrontation
Two officers, Acting Sergeant Liam Bailey and First Year Constable Boyd Harrington-Karaitiana, arrived and attempted to de-escalate the situation. However, the 26-year-old man, armed with a piece of timber, lunged for Acting Sergeant Bailey’s gun.
In the ensuing struggle, the gun discharged, injuring Bailey in the leg. Constable Harrington-Karaitiana then shot the man twice in the stomach. Despite his injuries, the man remained agitated and was tasered by other officers before being arrested.
Officer Injuries and First Aid
Both officers and the man were taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital. Acting Sergeant Bailey underwent surgery and is in stable condition. Constable Harrington-Karaitiana was treated for a bite wound and has since been released. Doctors credited Constable Harrington-Karaitiana’s quick thinking, which allowed him to apply a tourniquet to his colleague’s leg, with saving Acting Sergeant Bailey’s life.
Calls for Better Equipment
Queensland Police Union boss Shane Prior praised the officers’ bravery and highlighted the importance of the tourniquet in preventing a potentially fatal situation. He revealed that Constable Harrington-Karaitiana personally purchased the life-saving tourniquet and called on Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski to provide all frontline officers with personal tactical first aid kits, including tourniquets. Mr Prior stated that if the tourniquet hadn’t been applied immediately, Acting Sergeant Bailey could have died.
Published Date 13-Jan-2025
