A Ballarat man who was jailed last week for drugs charges and for trying to bite a police officer, was granted appeal bail yesterday.
Brock Morgan, from Ballarat East, pleaded guilty last week to a number of charges, including drug possession with intent to supply.
Yesterday, the court heard on the morning of October 31 last year that police raided Morgan’s Ballarat East home, where he was in bed with his partner when police executed the search warrant.
A police witness said Morgan became aggressive and started verbally abusing the police members during the raid.
“He thrashed both his hands around in a violent manner,” the witness said.
“He then attempted to bite (a police officer) on the arm as he tried to handcuff him.”
The court also heard two months before the raid, Morgan had twice been found possessing drugs.
On August 1, he was pulled over while driving, where police found $2000 cash in $50 notes, “deal bags” and 50 rounds of ammunition.
Nine days later, a search at his house uncovered scales and drug paraphernalia.
Morgan attended the house a short time later, where he was found to be in possession of LSD tabs, which he said were purchased to help “get off ice”.
Opposing appeal bail yesterday, police also made allegations that Morgan threatened the life of one police member and his children.
No charges have been laid in relation to those allegations.
Defence lawyer Mike Wardell said his client was no flight risk and the police concerns about him re-offending could be eased by placing more conditions on his bail.
Mr Wardell said Morgan had received “generally favourable” results from a previous credit-bail program he was placed on.
“He has stable accommodation and employee opportunities,” he said.
Magistrate Peter Couzens raised concerns about Morgan’s driving offence history, including 12 prior court appearances for driving while suspended or driving while disqualified.
He said because the drug matters fall short of “actual trafficking”, it helped Morgan’s case for appeal bail.
Morgan will now appear in the County Court at a later date.
