A fan of notorious criminal-turned-rapper Spanian has faced court for spitting at a police officer during chaotic scenes at a gathering attended by the YouTube star.
Spanian, whose real name is Anthony Lees, visited Logan in south-east Queensland on March 9, prompting around 350 of his unruly fans, known as eshays, to go on a rampage in what police called a “large-scale hit-and-run event”.
Following the chaos, which saw police cars kicked and bottles pelted, Jacob Neil Armstrong, 20, was one of three people charged.
Armstrong, whose distinctive mullet haircut appeared in videos of the gathering, faced Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court on Friday accused of spitting on a police officer’s foot during the event.
He was charged with one count of aggravated assault on a police officer.
He also faces unrelated charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, criminal trespassing and two counts of possession of dangerous drugs.
The Logan Central man also faces charges of receiving contaminated property, trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Images posted on social media captured the wild scenes from the Spanish event, including multiple burns as clouds of smoke filled the sky.
Jacob Neil Armstrong, 20 (circled), has been charged over a chaotic meeting in Logan for rapper Spanian (pictured right)
Flares were also launched as drivers performed risky stunts.
The thugs were also filmed surrounding and attacking a police car, where they repeatedly kicked the vehicle which was covered in dents.
Three police vehicles were reportedly damaged during the incident and one person, a 20-year-old Waterford man, was arrested and two people charged.
A YouTube video about the wild street scenes titled ‘Inside Brisbane’s Toughest Area – LOGAN – Into The Hood’ has been viewed almost a million times.
Defence lawyer Tamara Lawton sought to have the charges split into Brisbane jurisdiction and the remainder in Logan.
“There is a group of three offences that need to be adjourned to court three for a case conference in three weeks,” he said.
About 350 enthusiastic fans lined the streets of Logan to greet Spanian on March 9.
“I am seeking to split the case. I will drop the charge of serious assault and defer the Brisbane matters to the Brisbane Magistrates Court.”
Magistrate David Shepherd ruled that new bail was required for the Brisbane and Logan charges.
“There will be a new bail commitment, granted under the same conditions,” he said.
Charges of serious assault on a police officer, breaking and entering and two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle have been adjourned until August 7 at Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court.
Footage from the event showed wild scenes as fans of the Spaniard allegedly attacked police cars.
Spanian, who grew up in the inner Sydney suburb of Woolloomoolo, was jailed at 15 and became addicted to heroin the following year.
He spent 12 years in and out of NSW jails on various drug charges before turning his life around in 2017.
Since then, he has established himself as a successful rapper and works to expose the underbelly of cities around the world through his ‘Into the Hood’ series on YouTube, where he has amassed more than 628,000 subscribers.
