Further delay for Ryley Douglas Mackay's taxi rank attack and police assault case from New Year's Day allowed due to COVID situation

Ryley Douglas Mackay was excused from appearing in Tamworth Local Court when his case was called, and defence solicitor Harry Pendlebury asked for an adjournment.

Mackay was arrested after being tracked down and cornered by the police dog squad in the early hours of January 1, after he allegedly punched a man at a CBD taxi rank before assaulting police and fleeing the scene.

"It's from January 2021, how long do you need?" magistrate Julie Soars asked.

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Mr Pendlebury argued it was the first mention with police prosecutors after one charge against Mackay was dropped by the state prosecuting authority, the DPP, and handed back to police to deal with in the local court.

Ms Soars agreed to adjourn the case until September, but warned she was only accepting the delay due to current circumstances.

"Only because it's COVID, alright," she said.

She said pleas to the charges must be entered when the matter next returns to court.

Bail was continued and the case was adjourned.

Mackay, who is in his 20s, is accused of punching a 41-year-old man at a Brisbane Street taxi rank before fleeing. He was tracked by police to Bridge Street, where he allegedly struggled with police officers before escaping and running away.

The police dog squad cornered Mackay a short time later and he was arrested.

He's charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm; assaulting a police officer; attempting to escape custody; resisting arrest; and common assault.

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