A man who drove a stolen truck into a police car, pinning two officers between the vehicles, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
On May 24, 2023, a Hino truck was reported stolen from a Darling Downs tyre business.
Later that day, the truck was spotted by an employee of the tyre business parked opposite a service station near Goombungee, north of Toowoomba.
When police arrived, they parked their vehicle across the front of the truck to prevent the driver, Bartholomew Peter Dornbusch, from getting away.
The two officers, senior sergeant Steven Ingerson and senior constable Mark Pemberthey, then tried to physically remove Dornbusch from the truck.
Dornbusch, 45 at the time, accelerated, hitting the front of the police vehicle before the truck rolled backwards.
He accelerated again into the parked car, spinning it around, crushing the officers between the two vehicles before they were propelled over the bonnet of the police car.
Sergeant Ingerson suffered spinal and hip fractures, lost consciousness, and had to be put on breathing support while a helicopter took him to Brisbane for urgent treatment.
Constable Pemberthey suffered severe bruising and lacerations and later retired early.
After a police chase that lasted around 40 minutes and involved Dornbusch repeatedly driving around police vehicles and road spikes, the truck was eventually stopped at the Goombungee dump when a police officer deliberately drove his vehicle into its side.
Dornbusch was arrested and found to have methylamphetamine in his system.
Dornbusch has been in custody since his arrest in 2023. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)
The now 48-year-old has been in custody for the nearly three-and-a-half years since his arrest.
In sentencing, Justice Michael Copley acknowledged Dornbusch’s early plea of guilty but said “stern” sentences must be applied to those who endanger the lives of police officers.
“You showed absolutely no regard for the safety of police officers,” he said.
“You drove away leaving them on the road.”
Dornbusch was sentenced to seven years in prison for malicious acts against the police officers, plus three years on separate drug trafficking charges.
Because he was given a 10-year total sentence for crimes designated as serious and violent, he must serve at least 80 per cent of that behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
Source: www.abc.net.au
