Police Officer Cleared of Assault Charges After Bay Plaza Incident

Strategic Insights -

A South Coast police officer, Brett David Lindsay, has been cleared of assault charges following a chaotic fight in a shopping centre. The incident, which occurred on October 29, 2023, involved a group of young women, and Lindsay was seen using force to break up the fight. Video footage shown in court captured the officer grabbing and throwing several girls, including one who was lying on the ground and another who was hit by a shopping trolley. Lindsay's lawyer argued that the use of force was necessary to stop the fight and protect members of the public, including vulnerable people on mobility scooters.

Key Takeaways:

  • Brett David Lindsay, a South Coast police officer, was charged with four counts of assault following a incident in a shopping centre on October 29, 2023.
  • The incident involved a group of young women, and Lindsay was seen using force to break up the fight.
  • Video footage shown in court captured the officer grabbing and throwing several girls, including one who was lying on the ground and another who was hit by a shopping trolley.
  • Lindsay's lawyer argued that the use of force was necessary to stop the fight and protect members of the public, including vulnerable people on mobility scooters.
  • The magistrate found Lindsay not guilty, agreeing with the defence that the use of force was proportionate to the risk he faced.
  • Lindsay was found guilty of three counts of assault in an unrelated matter on August 22, 2025, and was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order.
  • The officer is currently suspended without pay pending a review.

Statistics:

  • October 29, 2023: Date of the incident in which Lindsay used force to break up a fight in a shopping centre.
  • 4 counts: Number of assault charges against Lindsay.
  • 3 counts: Number of assault charges Lindsay was found guilty of in an unrelated matter on August 22, 2025.
  • 2-year community corrections order: Sentence given to Lindsay for the unrelated matter.
  • 1: Number of times Lindsay was suspended without pay pending a review.

Sources:

  • "Not guilty: Brett Lindsay cleared of assaulting teens in Bay Plaza fracas" by Tim Grey, Batemans Bay Times.
  • Court transcript of Magistrate Michael Love's decision, Batemans Bay Court.