An Albury single mother got so angry about her arrest for suspected drug-driving that she headbutted and damaged a police car.
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Toiva Renee Orzegowski was ordered in Albury Local Court to pay compensation to the Albury Police Local Area Command.
The bill for the “deep dent” in the car was $1515.36.
The court heard this week that Orzegowski, 20, the mother of a three-year-old, had previously suffered from drug addiction issues.
But her defence said she had made a decent effort to address her problems since she had made the decision to move back to the Albury area.
That included coming under the guidance of her father, who supported her in court.
Magistrate Tony Murray was told how Orzegowski now worked at her father’s business.
But Mr Murray was sharply critical of Orzegowski’s outburst at police, describing it as disgraceful.
Orzegowski pleaded guilty to a charge of maliciously destroy or damage property over the incident.
She pleaded guilty also to several other charges, including being a probationary driver exceeding the speed limit by more than 30km/h and drive while suspended.
Orzegowski was convicted and fined $400 for her attack on the car and convicted and fined $1400 on the other matters, plus a six-month driving disqualification.
The court was told Orzegowski’s car was stopped by police in East Street, East Albury, on February 26 about 2.45pm.
She gave a positive result to an oral fluid test for methamphetamine, which she disputed.
A policeman opened the car door and Orzegowski reluctantly got out, then she took hold of the door and slammed it shut.
“I just want to go and get my baby,” she said.
Orzegowski continued to yell in dispute at the reading so one of the officers told her to stand facing car so she could be handcuffed.
But Orzegowski instead headbutted the car around the door frame.
One of the other charges related to an incident when she was pulled over travelling at 138km/h in what was a 100km/h stretch of the Hume Highway at Bowna on March 28, just after 5pm.
A check revealed Orzegowski had missed payments to the NSW State Debt Recovery Office over a fine for unlicensed driving.
“While dealing with the accused, police found her to be belligerent, uncooperative and to frequently use offensive language at police,” it was said in police facts.
