Officer's thumb broken during struggle

A police officer was punched and had his thumb broken while trying to arrest a man in Geraldton yesterday.

The incident happened after two men allegedly climbed a steel fence at a hotel on Foreshore Drive about 5.30am and tried to flee when confronted by police.

One of the men was allegedly caught by police, then wrestled and threw punches at the officer in an attempt to get away.

The man was subdued and taken to Geraldton Police Station.

He was searched and police allegedly found clip seal bags containing about 1 gram of cannabis and 0.1 grams of methamphetamine.

A 40-year-old Utakarra man was charged with trespass, assault with intent to prevent arrest and two counts of possessing a prohibited drug.

He appeared before Geraldton Magistrate’s Court yesterday and was remanded to appear on August 6.