DRUNKEN idiots have been warned that police are not there "to be punching bags" after a Bathurst officer was allegedly bitten on the bicep during an arrest.
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Officers were allegedly assaulted after being called to two separate incidents outside a William Street hotel on the weekend.
Inspector Gerard Powell said a 20-year-old man from Orange was arrested by police after allegedly trying to bite an arresting officer.
"Police were called to the licensed premises in William Street just after 1.45am after the man was asked to leave the premises," Inspector Powell said.
"He had become argumentative and aggressive, and refused to move on."
Inspector Powell said police would allege the man was walking back towards the hotel when he was arrested. He allegedly began to fight with police, trying to kick them.
After the man was taken to the ground, police allege he bit one officer on the bicep.
The officer was taken to Bathurst Base Hospital for treatment.
The 20-year-old was charged with a string of offences including assaulting an officer in the execution of duty; resisting an officer in the execution of duty; and remaining on licensed premises. He will appear before Bathurst Local Court on April 15.
Inspector Powell said the police officer sustained a "significant bite mark" on his bicep in the incident.
He said the alleged assault was one of two separate incidents at the same location, with the other occurring about 30 minutes earlier.
"Police were conducting patrols of licensed premises and were out the front of the hotel talking with security when it is alleged the accused ran out of the hotel towards a group of people and started throwing punches at them," Inspector Powell said.
"Police and security intervened at which point police will allege the accused man then turned on police, trying to punch an officer in the head.
"The police officer managed to dodge the punch and the man was arrested, taken back to Bathurst police station and charged with assaulting police in the execution of duty."
A 28-year-old Bathurst man will appear before court on April 8.
Inspector Powell said the incidents were far from acceptable.
"It's bad enough police are attacked but for someone to [allegedly] bite a police officer for simply doing their job, it's disgusting," he said.
"Police are not there to be punching bags, they are not there to be assaulted.
"This behaviour is not acceptable. People who drink too much and turn on police can expect to be charged, put before the courts and made accountable."
