A furious pensioner who lost it at the Deputy Prime Minister on the side of a remote highway says he unleashed his tirade because a cop asked him to do a U-turn – as he’s refused bail for allegedly threatening an officer.
Pedro De Pakas was arrested on Sunday and accused of threatening serious harm to a Commonwealth law officer on the New England Highway, in the NSW Northern Tablelands, on April 22.
The 52-year-old allegedly veered his SUV towards Barnaby Joyce’s vehicle, which was pulled over, before he lashed out at a police security guard who jumped out of the car to protect the federal MP.
Mobile phone footage captured by a person travelling with Mr Joyce allegedly showed De Pakas yelling, ‘Get out of the f***in’ way you dog. Get the f*** out of my face you maggot c***,’ at the officer.
Later that day, De Pakas uploaded a bizarre expletive-laden rant to Facebook claiming his temper only boiled over because an AFP officer jumped in the way of his car and asked him to turn around.
Pedro De Pakas (pictured) was was arrested on Sunday and accused of threatening serious harm to a commonwealth law officer
In an expletive-laden rant on Facebook (pictured), De Pakas said he only got angry when the police officer asked him to turn around
‘Driving today, saw Barnaby and one of his d***heads thought he could stand in the way of my car in the middle of my drive line, telling me to turn around and go back the other way!’ he wrote on Friday afternoon.
‘What the useless c***sucking f***wit said was illegal and he certainly had no right to be telling me anything especially as he did not identify himself.’
‘My daughter had to get out of the car as they were refusing to move! Like they own the world! C***sucking f***wits!’
De Pakas uploaded further footage of the alleged incident the following day, showing the AFP officer standing in front of his car.
‘Get out of the way, d***head,’ the 52-year-old shouted in the footage, along with a series of inappropriate and sexual slurs about Mr Joyce, as he drove past the officer.
‘You’re a f***ing piece of s***, Barnaby,’ he screamed, as his daughter yelled for him to stop.
De Pakas (pictured) was refused bail on Monday. His case will be heard again on June 29
Barnaby Joyce’s security fended off an abusive driver after he tried to confront the deputy prime minister on a busy highway
Along with the footage, he wrote: ‘After getting back into my car, [the police officer] still got in front of my car escalating the situation instead of just letting me past as I was allowed to do without him obstructing my driving.’
‘He was in the middle of the service lane.’
Initial reports stated Mr Joyce was heading to his electorate office in Armidale, along with three security cars.
The Deputy Prime Minister pulled his car over to the side of the road to take a call on his phone when De Pakas’ SUV made a U-turn and headed for Mr Joyce’s vehicle.
Following the verbal spray, De Pakas’ daughter tried to pull him back into the SUV before, he allegedly hurled more abuse at the unmoving officer.
‘C’mon, c’mon on ya c***. You piss weak c***,’ he yells, according to the video.
Pictured: An AFP officer standing in front of De Pakas’ SUV on the New England Highway
Mr Joyce praised the actions of the quick thinking security staff – labelling the outburst as ‘sad’ and ‘unsavoury’
The pensioner pointed his finger in the face of the AFP officer, who remained silent as he stares him down.
The officer calmly watched the driver return to his SUV following the outburst.
Depakas was arrested on Sunday and charged with threatening to cause harm to a Commonwealth public official, and failure to comply with bail conditions.
Bail was denied during his mention in Tamworth Local Court on Monday.
He will appear again on June 29.
Following the alleged altercation, Mr Joyce praised the actions of the quick thinking security staff.
‘This was a sad and unsavoury incident, which in no way reflects how the majority of Australians participate in our democracy,’ he said.
‘I thank my protective detail … This will be dealt with through the appropriate processes.’
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