A wanted man who allegedly spent about three hours barricaded in a Canberra public toilet had boltcutters, a screwdriver and a skinning knife in there with him, a court has heard.
ACT Policing appealed to the public on Monday for information about where to find Calwell man Alan John Matas, who was the subject of an arrest warrant issued over alleged violent offending.
Matas promptly responded to an appeal on the force's Facebook page by writing: "ITS ALL LIES HOW CAN YOU POST THIS."
In another comment, the 34-year-old said he would hand himself in.
Police claim he did not, saying officers instead found him barricaded in a Calwell toilet cubicle about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
"He was engaged by specialist negotiators and surrendered at approximately 11.30pm," ACT Policing said in a media release.
Matas, who has been charged with seven offences, spent most of Wednesday in hospital.
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He appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court via audio-visual link from a remote room on Thursday morning.
Through defence lawyer Peter Woodhouse, he pleaded not guilty to a charge of forcibly confining a woman between November 17 and 18.
Not guilty pleas were also entered to charges alleging he assaulted the same woman three times and choked her once last month.
Mr Woodhouse said the remaining two charges - possessing a knife in public without a reasonable excuse and going equipped for theft - had arisen from his client's arrest on Tuesday night.
"He was located in a toilet block with boltcutters, a screwdriver and a knife," Mr Woodhouse told the court.
Matas pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing the skinning knife in public without a reasonable excuse, and not guilty to the allegation he possessed the other items with intent to commit theft.
Mr Woodhouse said he was confident the latter charge would be resolved, however, without the need for a contested hearing.
Matas did not apply for bail, and Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker therefore remanded him in custody.
The 34-year-old is next due in court on January 14.
