Hero Police Officer Praised After Shie-lding Blo-od-Soaked Child as Two Are Found De-ad in Suspected M-ur-der-Su-icide
A police officer has been praised for their heroic act after a blood-soaked child was found outsidethe home of an alleged murder-suicide.
Police swarmed a home on King St, Charleville following reports of a “serious assault” about 5.30pm on Wednesday, but were immediately confronted with a violent crime scene that turned into a seven-hour siege.
Officers entered the property about 1am on Thursday after streets were locked down and specialist police from Brisbane were called in to assist during the emergency situation.
Police found the bodies of a pregnant Julia Brundson, 23, and Michael Waltke, 45, inside the home.
Julia Brunsdon was killed in a suspected murder suicide in Charleville by her partner Michael Waltke. Picture 7News
Michael Waltke. Picture Supplied
During the siege situation residents of the small town were urged to stay inside for several hours as police negotiated with a person inside.
Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said the situation quickly escalated and police retreated to safety before they spotted a child at the front of the home.
An officer ran back into danger to rescue the blood-soaked child then comforted her behind the safety of a police car for 30 minutes.
“It’s extraordinary and I don’t profess to know the full details of that but I will be finding that out because police put themselves in harm’s way every day … and once I know more about that I’ll look to acknowledge that,” Mr Vanderbyl said.
The rural town was plunged into lockdown for several hours. Picture: 4RRFM 105.7 Charleville
Neighbour Summa Pervis told the Courier-Mail an officer grabbed the little girl and held for “a good half-hour”.
“He was just casually holding her in front of the house behind the (police) car,” she said.
Local Mackenzie-Grace Smith, said the child was “calm” while the officer held them close.
“The way (the police officer) was holding her was … as you would hold a baby, but he had his arms wrapped around her, with his hand making sure she wasn’t actually facing what was happening,” she said.
“He’s standing with himself facing everything, but he’s got her looking away as if trying to protect her.”
Ms Smith said the child was “absolutely quiet” and “didn’t look like anything was wrong”.
“It could also be another factor that she was so calm because she was young, she didn’t know what was happening,” she said.
The young girl reportedly had blood “literally splattered all over shirt”.
“It was bloodstained everywhere,” Ms Smith said.
Police declared a PSPA after they were called to a property after reports of a serious assault.
‘Dynamic, threatening’ scene
Mr Vanderbyl said negotiations with the perpetrator became “quite dynamic and quite threatening … quite quickly” to officers on the scene.
“They withdrew to a point of safety,” he said.
“Negotiators were there at that point, and specialist police were then activated in a line from Brisbane.”
He said it was “too early” to determine if the incident was domestic-violence-related or if there were mental health concerns.
“The circumstances of all the people involved will be thoroughly examined as part of the wider investigation,” he said.
A toddler was taken to Charleville Hospital about 6pm in a stable condition with a minor leg laceration.
Police declared a Public Safety Preservation Act for the area, which was revoked shortly after 1.40am on Thursday.
Officers were trying to negotiate during the tense police operation.
“No police officers or members of the public were injured during the incident,” a statement read.
He said the deaths would shake the small town, which had a population of about 3000 people.
“These types of events rock any community badly, let alone a smaller community, where everyone is known to each other,” he said.
“It is something that will have a tragic impact on the wider community of Charleville, and not the least of friends and relatives of the deceased, who our thoughts must remain with today as well.”
Residents told The Courier-Mail the couple were usually “very quiet” and often see “working in the yard”.
Veronica Hickson, who has lived in the area for a long time, said there were “loads of cars” in the street and officers “everywhere with guns”.
“It is a little bit frightening, when it happened nearly across the road from where you’re living, she said.
Longtime resident and business owner Kade Radnedge said the phone was ringing off the hook to make sure everyone was OK.
“I’ves been here for 25 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.
“It’s a shock to the community, it’s a daunting feeling (because) you know what’s going to happen next.”
Police ended the lockdown order after eight hours. Picture: 7News
Online, residents said they could hear a convoy of police vehicles driving to the rural Queensland home.
“Lots of police vehicles under lights and siren from Brisbane Toowoomba and Dalby heading that way,” one person wrote.
“The number of ambulances, police cars etc heading up is alarming,” said another.
Residents said the incident was ‘frightening’. Picture: 9News.
Murweh Shire Council Mayor Shaun Radnedge said it was a “heartbreaking day for our community of Charleville”.
“My thoughts, and the thoughts of our councillors and staff, are with the families, friends and everyone affected by the deaths of a man and a woman in a Charleville residence overnight,” he said.
He said he wanted to “reassure our community that there is no ongoing risk to the public”.
Murweh Shire Council Mayor Shaun Radnedge said it was a ‘heartbreaking day’ for the community. Picture: 7News
“This tragedy will be felt deeply across our small community. I know many people will be struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” he said.
“I also want to mention our gratitude to our local and supporting police officers and emergency response agencies for their commitment to the safety of our community.”
