Jason Patrick Raroa: A Kojonup man who had a 50-minute stand off with police hiding in a caravan avoids jail

A Kojonup man who hid from police in a caravan telling them to shoot him in a 50-minute stand-off, and drove with drugs in his system, has avoided jail. Jason Patrick Raroa, 27, appeared in Katanning Magistrates Court via video link from Casuarina Prison, pleaded guilty to driving with illicit drugs in his oral fluid and obstructing public officers. The charges of aggravated home burglary, assault that caused bodily harm and breaching protective bail were dismissed by the court. On February 7, Raroa hid inside his caravan when police attended his residence at 11.20pm to arrest him under suspicion in relation to the three dropped charges. Raroa claimed to have weapons in the caravan and told police “the only way I’ll come out is if you shot me”. This led to a 50-minute stand-off with police, which ended once his mother arrived at the scene and persuaded the 27-year-old to come out. Police took Raroa into custody without further issues once his mother had calmed him down. A month earlier, Raroa had been stopped by police on Albany Highway in Kojonup and tested positive for methamphetamine and cannabis in his fluid. Raroa told Magistrate Erin O’Donnell that he had his dog with him inside the caravan and was afraid the dog would attack the police if he came out. Ms O’Donnell said she accepted that but believed the real reason he did not exit the caravan was because he was afraid, which Raroa admitted to. Defence lawyer Kyah Langdon said her client’s behaviour was caused by his drug use, but Raroa is currently clean and ready to be released after three months in custody. Ms O’Donnell agreed that jail was not an appropriate punishment and Raroa was fined $3250, and ordered to pay $456 in costs and $200 for an analysis fee.