How YouTube star Spanian’s wild encounter with Eshay fans turned violent and left police cars attacked
A fan of notorious criminal-turned-rapper Spanian has appeared in court after spitting on 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, when about 350 of his unruly fans, known as eshays, went on a rampage in what police described as a “large-scale hooning event.”
After the chaos, which saw police cars kicked and bottles thrown, Jacob Neil Armstrong, 20, was one of three people charged.
Armstrong, whose distinctive mullet was prominently featured in videos from the rally, was due to appear in Beenleigh District Court on Friday charged with spitting on the foot of a police officer 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, trespassing and two counts of possession of dangerous drugs.
The Logan Central man is also charged with receiving contaminated goods, trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Images have been posted on social media of the wild scenes at the Spanish event, including multiple burnouts and huge clouds of smoke filling the air.
Jacob Neil Armstrong, 20, (circled) has been charged in connection with a chaotic rally in Logan for rapper Spanian (pictured right)
Flares were also fired when drivers performed dangerous stunts.
Hoons were also filmed surrounding and attacking a police car, repeatedly kicking at the dented vehicle.
Three police cars were reportedly damaged during the event and one person, a 20-year-old man from Waterford, was arrested and two people charged.
A YouTube video of the wild street scenes, titled ‘Inside Brisbane’s ROUGHEST Area – LOGAN – Into The Hood’, has been viewed almost a million times.
Defence lawyer Tamara Lawton wanted to split the charges and file the charges with the Brisbane jurisdiction, leaving the rest in Logan.
“There are three violations that need to be adjourned until the third court for a hearing in three weeks,” she said.
About 350 raucous fans took to the streets of Logan on March 9 to meet Spanian
“I am essentially seeking to split the case. I will be setting aside the charge of serious assault and adjourning the Brisbane cases to Brisbane Magistrates Court.”
Judge David Shepherd ruled that new bail should be signed for the charges against Brisbane and Logan.
“There will be a new bail agreement, which will be granted on the same terms,” he said.
Charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, entering a dwelling and two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle have been adjourned until August 7 at Beenleigh District Court.
Footage from the event showed wild scenes as fans of the Spaniard reportedly attacked police cars
Spanian, who grew up in the Sydney suburb of Woolloomoolo, was jailed at age 15 and became addicted to heroin the following year.
He spent 12 years in various prisons in New South Wales for drug offences before turning his life around in 2017.
Since then he has developed into a successful rapper and shows the underside of cities around the world through his series ‘Into the Hood’ on YouTube. In this series he now has more than 628,000 subscribers.
