A NSW police officer who hit a naked teenager more than 15 times after he was brought to ground told a hearing he didn’t count the number of baton-strikes.
March 29, 2018
A Byron Bay police officer who hit a disoriented teenager with a baton more than 15 times as three other officers attempted to handcuff the boy has told a hearing he didn’t count the number of blows.
Officer E on Thursday gave evidence at a Law Enforcement Conduct Commission hearing in Sydney that’s examining the conduct of officers involved in the apprehension and detention of the drug-affected teenager.
“It (counting the blows) never went through my head. What went through my head was having him restrained. This guy was violent and confrontational,” Officer E said.
A video of the incident shows Officer E, who is wearing a cap, striking the boy as he lay on the ground surrounded by three other officers.
Officer E said the boy had been yelling and screaming as he and his partner arrived in the laneway near a backpackers in Byron Bay.
“He appeared aggressive, he was loud, very loud,” the officer said, adding the teenager then walked to towards his partner, Officer D, “yelling and screaming” which he “deemed to be a threat”.