Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
NSW cop didn’t count blows on boy

A NSW policeman 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 policeman 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 youth.

“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  towards his partner, Officer D, “yelling and screaming” which he “deemed to be a threat”.

The youth then threw a “wild roundhouse sort of punch that went nowhere near connecting” Officer E said.

The naked boy was then pepper sprayed by Officer D which, Officer E said, had “no effect”.

“It aggravated him. I remember him yelling, I think it got louder,” Officer E said.

He then drew and fired his Taser after the teen came towards him.

Video from the Taser’s onboard camera shows the teen stumbling before falling to the ground where he was again Tasered when he attempted to get up.

The four officer then moved in to restrain the boy using handcuffs.

Officer E – who by this time had his foot pressing down on the boy’s body – said he began using his baton when the teenager struggled against the four officers attempting to handcuff him.

Bystander video taken from a nearby balcony shows the officer striking him numerous times.

Chief Commissioner Michael Adams and counsel assisting questioned Officer E about the level of force used.

But Officer E said it was needed to “have the desired effect”.

“He needed to be compliant. He needed to be restrained,” he said 

In video footage of the incident the drug-affected youth screams: “Please, help me, God” and “I’m not a threat to anybody” as he is surrounded by the four officers and repeatedly struck with a baton as he lies on the ground.

Comments are closed.

Latest Stories
archive
date published
March 2024
M T W T F S S
« Feb    
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728293031