A WOMAN involved in the brawl that saw Griffith police officers attacked and thrown to the ground last year had a gun aimed at her as she drove towards an officer, Griffith Local Court heard last week.
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The 20-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to 12 months good behaviour for her involvement in the fight.
On Monday, December 2 last year, police were called to the Department of Family and Community Services office in Kooyoo Street where a group of people were threatening staff.
Eight children, who had been removed from the care of their family, were at the office undergoing a supervised visit with their mother but when it ended, they were reluctant to return to their foster carers.
The family members began verbally abusing staff and the situation quickly escalated out of control. When police arrived at 5.30pm, staff had locked themselves inside the office and left the family fighting in the foyer.
Police managed to calm the situation but other family members arrived at the office and became violent.
One family member began running at the locked office door, kicking the window and cracking the glass. Despite police attempts to calm the situation, the 10 family members refused to leave.
A violent melee ensued and police tried to diffuse the mob with bursts of capsicum spray, but they had no effect.
Police attempted to arrest one of the men but he wrestled against them and managed to throw an officer to the ground.
The man ran away and got into a waiting car, driven by the 20-year-old woman.
A police officer ran in front of the car as the driver attempted to escape along Kooyoo Street.
While she slowed down, the woman continued to drive towards toward the officer, who feared for his life. The policeman pulled his gun on the woman as he yelled for her to stop.
The woman stopped and both she and her male passenger were arrested.