Dwayne John James Goward, 37, was arrested by police this week. Photo: ACT Policing.
Four men reportedly pretended to be police officers when they allegedly forced their way into a home last year before robbing and assaulting the resident.
But while they allegedly made off with stolen property like a Toyota Hilux, they apparently meant to target a different home and went to the wrong house.
Two of these alleged fake cops, 47-year-old Paul Arthur Palmer and 37-year-old Dwayne John James Goward, were arrested this week.
It is alleged they and two other men forced their way into a home in Mawson on 18 July 2024 while claiming they were police officers conducting a search warrant.
The group allegedly threatened the male occupant with a gun and other weapons before assaulting him, leaving him with serious injuries that required hospitalisation.
“Police believe the man was mistakenly targeted by the group and they fled the scene in a stolen white Toyota Hilux and two other vehicles,” an ACT Policing spokesperson said.
A long-running investigation resulted in the arrest of Palmer, who is from Googong, and Goward, of Rivett, this week before they were formally charged when they faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday (14 May).
Palmer applied for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution, while Goward did not and was remanded in custody.
The defence lawyer for the former argued it was an “entirely circumstantial case at this stage” and “there are alternative hypotheses which are consistent with innocence”.
Paul Arthur Palmer, 47, is escorted into the City Police Station. Photo: ACT Policing.
But the prosecutor alleged CCTV captured Palmer going into a Big W store on the night of the home invasion and buying black clothing in different sizes.
He alleged the home invaders wore these clothes during the incident.
Magistrate Jane Campbell said that while the case against the two defendants was circumstantial, it was also fairly compelling.
She said a Ford Ranger registered to Palmer had been seen in the area around the house before the alleged home invasion, then he had been stopped by police when driving this car less than an hour after the incident.
Also, she alleged there had been phone conversations between him and Goward the day before and day of the incident, as well as money transfers between them.
Magistrate Campbell said she thought the likelihood of Palmer not appearing in court and committing another offence was extremely high and refused bail.
Palmer and Goward were both charged with robbery, burglary, assault, theft and property damage by joint commission, as well as impersonating a police officer.
Palmer entered not guilty pleas and will face court again on 26 July, while Goward did not enter pleas and will face court on 6 June.
The court heard that while police believe they have identified a third man involved in the home invasion, he was already in custody on unrelated matters.
The fourth man remains unidentified.
Susie Schneider I'm going to buy a little goffer, like Cookie has, no petrol, no rego and no licence… View