Police union condemns violent truck attack on Queensland detectives

Police and union leaders have expressed serious concern following a violent attack on two detectives in regional Queensland, with senior figures warning of the incident's impact across the broader policing community and confirming immediate welfare support for the injured officers.

Bartholomew Peter Dornbusch, 45, from Oakey, was charged this week with two counts of attempted murder following an attack on Wednesday in which he allegedly accelerated a stolen Hino truck directly at two officers who were attempting to stop him north of Toowoomba. The officers were temporarily trapped between the truck and their police car, with one suffering injuries severe enough to warrant emergency airlifting to Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital where he was initially placed in an induced coma before stabilising. His colleague was transported to St Vincent's Hospital in Toowoomba with serious injuries and has since been discharged.

The response from Queensland police leadership has been swift and unsparing in its condemnation. Officials stated they were "troubled" by the incident and what they characterised as a calculated "complete disregard" for both officer safety and community welfare. The seriousness of the attack prompted immediate activation of support services for the injured officers and their families during their recovery period.

Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers delivered pointed commentary emphasising the incident's wider resonance within law enforcement. He described the attack as having "rocked the policing community and the community of the Southern Downs," indicating the ripple effects such violence creates beyond the immediate victims. Leavers specifically underscored that one of the injured officers faces an extended rehabilitation period ahead, highlighting the lasting consequences of deliberate attacks on police during their duties. The union's mobilisation of dedicated support services reflects the gravity law enforcement attaches to such incidents.

The incident unfolded over several locations on Wednesday afternoon. Police attempted to intercept the stolen truck around 1:30pm near Meringandan when Dornbusch allegedly accelerated while officers tried to open the vehicle's door, trapping both detectives in a dangerous position before fleeing at speed. The truck subsequently collided with two additional police vehicles at a waste plant in Goombungee, injuring two further officers who sustained minor injuries.

Two other men arrested at the scene—19-year-old Brock Dornbusch and 28-year-old Michael Stephen Patch-Metzroth—were remanded in custody this week on charges including unlawful use of a motor vehicle and related offences. They are scheduled to appear in court in June.

Dornbusch remains in custody facing an extensive charge sheet that includes attempted murder (two counts), unlawful use of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a vehicle, breaking and entering, evading police, and drug possession offences. He is scheduled to appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on 13 July. The severity of the charges filed reflects law enforcement's assessment of the deliberate and violent nature of the attack.