"I'll kill you if you don't shut up," police say were the words allegedly uttered by a man who went on a violent rampage in Bunbury on Monday morning.
Police allege at about 7.20am, a 41-year-old man assaulted a female doctor as she was parking her vehicle outside Bunbury Regional Hospital before stealing her vehicle.
Detective Senior Constable Karl Perry said the 28-year-old woman managed to escape from the vehicle, ran away screaming and sustained bruising and swelling to her face as a result of the assault.
The man then drove the stolen vehicle to an address in College Grove where he became involved in a verbal altercation with a male adult before driving away and abandoning the vehicle.
Police allege the man later jumped the fence of a College Grove residence, where he picked up a shovel and threatened a 19-year-old female occupant of the house who was holding a baby.
Her 24-year-old partner approached the offender and was struck on the head with the shovel, causing him to fall to the ground. He was allegedly struck "several more times" and sustained lacerations to the back of his head.
The couple's neighbour came to their aid after hearing screams and helped subdue and restrain the offender until police arrived.
Detective Perry said the male offender, currently in police custody at hospital, is suspected to be under the influence of an "unknown substance" and has yet to be interviewed.
“Don’t ever confront offenders, it’s better to lock yourself up in the house and call the police because you never know what they’re capable of doing,” Detective Perry said.
“It is shocking that innocent people can be in their own house and have someone randomly go into their yard, threaten and bash people for no reason.”
The man is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, facing potential charges of robbery, making threats to kill and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
