Qld man found not guilty of police KO

Police have been ordered to pay the legal fees of a man they accused of knocking out an officer during an arrest on the Gold Coast earlier this year.

Jake Pearson, 22, was found not guilty at Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday of serious assault of a police officer after the incident at the Surfers Paradise safe drink precinct in June.

Pearson was out with his girlfriend when he got into a scuffle with police - with one of the officers briefly losing consciousness.

Magistrate Kay Philipson told the court prosecutors had been unable to prove Pearson was the one responsible for causing Constable Rohan Larkin to be knocked out, despite CCTV footage of the incident.

At least four officers were trying to arrest Pearson when the alleged assault occurred.

Ms Philipson then ordered police to pay $1500 to Pearson for court costs from a one-day trial which she believed could have been avoided.

"Before the matter went to trial prosecutors ought to be aware they would have had difficulty proving the defendant caused the bodily harm as was alleged," Ms Philipson told the court.

She added another of the officers involved in the arrest had been found to be "a most unreliable witness".

Pearson was convicted and fined $1000 after pleading guilty to a charge of obstructing police.

Ms Philipson noted the defendant had already avoided having a conviction recorded on three previous court appearances, including an earlier charge of obstructing police and the courtesy wouldn't be extended to him this time.