Dramatic scenes in Albany CBD as police wrestle with wanted man Nicholas William Knight

Dramatic scenes unfolded in Albany’s CBD on Monday afternoon as a group of police officers wrestled with a wanted man in front of stunned onlookers. Eight officers were involved in arresting alleged methamphetamine dealer Nicholas William Knight in a carpark near the intersection of Young Street and Lockyer Avenue. The 27-year-old struggled with police for nearly 20 minutes before officers were able to get him secured in the back of a paddy wagon. One witness told the Advertiser they locked the front door of their store after hearing shouting as Mr Knight was being chased by police along Alexander Street. The witness said they saw Mr Knight run across a busy Lockyer Avenue without regard for traffic. A warrant was issued for Mr Knight’s arrest after he failed to appear in Albany Magistrate’s Court on May 13. He was due to defend a string of charges in court that day, including possessing methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, and two counts of offering to sell or supply the drug. Another eight crimes were added to his list of pending matters after Monday’s dramatic arrest, including assaulting a public officer. He was remanded in custody overnight. On Tuesday in the Albany Magistrate’s Court, prosecuting Sgt Dave Loverock said Knight had bitten an officer on the arm while inside a cell, three hours after his arrest. Sgt Loverock said a male constable had moved to confiscate Mr Knight’s mobile phone as he live streamed to Facebook. He had been allowed to use the phone to call Legal Aid, but police deemed the live stream a security risk. Mr Knight was refused bail by Magistrate Raelene Johnston at his hearing on Tuesday. Ms Johnston told him she had “absolutely no confidence” conditions could be made to ensure he would reappear in court. Mr Knight had failed to appear at two earlier hearings in April. The court was told there was no record of the accused trying to contact the court or police before his missed court dates. Through his defence counsel Graeme Payne, Mr Knight argued he missed those hearings after developing COVID-19 symptoms and being instructed by his general practitioner to self-isolate. However, when police attended the address listed on his bail conditions during that period, he was not there. The 27-year-old told the court he had been motel-hopping while in self-isolation. “That defeats the purpose of self-isolation,” Ms Johnston said. Mr Knight is due back in court on June 11 to face more than 20 criminal charges. He has pleaded guilty to four counts of breaching a court order and one count of no authority to drive.