A Ballarat East man accused of carrying around a piece of wood in public to protect himself while on a five-day ice bender has been refused bail.
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Keegan Wagner was arrested a month ago near the Wendouree Train Station after allegedly refusing to comply with police orders to drop the piece of wood.
Police allege a witness first saw Wagner walking along the train line with a baseball bat on November 21 at 11.15am.
However when police arrived, he was allegedly carrying a piece of wood to protect himself from unknown attackers.
Constable Damien Hughes told the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Wednesday Wagner refused to drop the piece of wood despite police holding OC spray.
“He told police he believed people were after him,” Constable Hughes said.
The court was told later that day, the accused allegedly attended the Ballarat Justice Service Centre where he put five holes into the wall.
Constable Hughes said Wagner continued to be aggressive towards police after his arrest.
Police opposed Wagner’s application for bail, saying Wagner would continue to put the community at risk of danger and continue to use ice.
Defence barrister Angela Sharpley said her client was currently on a community corrections order and he had been out of trouble for a significant period of time.
“Drug use has been a problem in the past but he has been absent for two years with the exception of that relapse,” Ms Sharpley said.
Magistrate Gregory Robinson said Wagner had a criminal history of violence and was placed on a CCO in 2015.
He said there was no evidence Wagner’s drug problem had been contained and refused his bail application.
