Broome man with methamphetamine, doctor and cop assault charges has bail renewed in pre-sentence order

A Broome man charged with assaulting a police officer and a doctor in a drug-induced psychosis following the discovery of $4000 worth of methamphetamine in his car has been handed a pre-sentence order for 12 months in Broome Magistrates Court on May 1. Dane Pigram-Matsumoto was found slumped over his steering wheel at around 9.55pm on December 18, 2021, when police were called to do a welfare check at a house on Pembroke Road in Broome. After being asked to exit the vehicle, Mr Pigram-Matsumoto allegedly punched one of the officers in the face when 4.57 grams of methamphetamine had been discovered, and tried to walk away before being arrested and taken into custody. Due to his erratic behaviour Mr Pigram-Matsumoto, who was 25 years old at the time, was taken to Broome Regional Hospital for psychological assessment and administered two doses of sedatives. It is then alleged he asked one of the doctors for a cup of water, and upon receiving the water, punched the doctor on the side of the face, causing him to hit his head against the wall. Body-cam footage worn by police officers shown in court captured the moment the police officer and doctor were punched in the face by the accused during his psychotic episode. The court heard the doctor received a CT scan and MRI six weeks after the incident due to suffering slow thoughts and fatigue, feeling hesitant to treat patients with similar drug-induced psychosis. Following his arrest and health assessment, Mr Pigram-Matsumoto - who had no criminal record - pleaded guilty to all charges and was granted bail on January 9, 2022, to continue working at Mimbi Caves under a conditional bail order. Despite a period where he was using a significant amount of methamphetamine per day after a car accident in 2020 left him with a traumatic brain bleed, the 27-year-old has since turned his behaviour around and presented the court with glowing character references from acquaintances and employers. Mr Pigram-Matsumoto’s bail has been renewed on amended terms with a $3000 surety and will undergo counselling for drug and alcohol abuse. His next appearance in court will be in four months and again early next year.