WA’s police commissioner has ruled out reopening a case in which a man alleges he was choked by an off-duty police officer, in front of his daughter, during a fight.
The scuffle escalated from a February 2024 driving dispute during which 58-year-old Sean Beasley alleges Sergeant Glen Morey cut him off.
The men gave each other the finger, after which the officer got out of his vehicle and approached Mr Beasley’s car.
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Accounts differ of what occurred next as a fight ensued, with Mr Beasley’s daughter capturing photos appearing to show Sergeant Morey’s hands around Mr Beasley’s neck.
Mr Beasley said he managed to slip loose and slapped the officer in the face — Sergeant Morey alleges it was a punch.
Both the WA Corruption and Crime Commission and the Parliamentary Inspector have reviewed the case, and recommended the officer be charged with aggravated assault, and suffocation and strangulation, and for a court to determine if an offence occurred.
But today WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch shut down the possibility of charges being laid.
“We’ve already reviewed the case, and the answer is no,” he said.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch says no further action will be taken. (ABC News: Mya Kordic)
Commissioner Blanch rebuked criticisms of WA Police’s internal affairs investigations, citing figures from its most recent annual report.
“Twenty-six people were charged in WA Police, police officers, for various offences throughout the year — there are occasions where we just don’t have enough evidence to proceed with charging,” he said.
“If the number was zero in the annual report, I think there would be an argument, but we do a thorough investigation and if the evidence is not there, the evidence is not there.”
A collage of Sergeant Glen Morey in an altercation with Sean Beasley. (Supplied)
The ABC has been unable to contact Sergeant Morey directly but understands he strenuously denies all the allegations.
Sergeant ‘instigated’ encounter
Mr Beasley said the commissioner’s comments were disappointing.
“As I’ve always maintained, if it had been me … and there were photos of my hands around his neck, there’s no way in hell they would have abandoned the pursuit,” Mr Beasley said.
Mr Beasley engaged the state’s anti-corruption watchdog, and then the Parliamentary Inspector, after the police Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) told him they would not be pursuing charges against the officer.
Brightening the reflection in Sergeant Morey’s sunglasses shows a hand on the front of Sean Beasley’s neck. (Supplied)
In Parliamentary Inspector Matthew Zilko’s annual report, tabled in parliament, he said there was “obvious difficulties in prosecuting an assault where both parties have applied force to each other”.
“Nevertheless, it seemed to me that there was more than sufficient evidence for a magistrate, rather than the IAU, to determine whether an offence had been committed.”
Mr Zilko said the sergeant “instigated the physical encounter” by getting out of his car and approaching Mr Beasley’s vehicle, which the sergeant later admitted was “foolish”.
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