A video clip has emerged of South Australian police pinning down an Aboriginal man, and has in result caused fury online.
The footage was taken by bystanders who were yelling at officers to “get off his head” and “get his head up” off the ground.
It was posted on Facebook on Monday night.
The clip was then posted to Facebook on Monday night, where witness Emma Pereira said her friend, Noel Henry, was the man being arrested.
Comments on Facebook suggested he had been stopped for not wearing a helmet while riding a bike.
Ms Pereira says he was “getting tackled” by two officers when she started filming.
The incident reportedly happened outside her Albert Street flat in Kilburn, in Adelaide’s inner north, about 9:30 pm (local time) on Monday.
“He’s like part of our family, he’s lived in Kilburn for all his life,” Ms Pereira explained to The Advertiser.
SA police released a statement to say police were sent to a Kilburn address in response to “an alleged high risk domestic violence matter” about 8.15 pm on Monday.
Police went on to say a woman was taken to hospital and the offender was not known at the time.
However when police arrived on the scene, they become suspicious of a man getting on to his bicycle.
“Police at this time advised the man that they had suspicions concerning him being in possession of illicit drugs,” SA Police said.
“He was asked to place his hands on his head while a search of his person was undertaken.”
The statement alleges that the man was initially compliant, but after a short time he “began to refuse”.
“Police and the man went to the ground as police attempted to restrain and handcuff him,” SA Police said.
During the arrest, one of the officers was wearing a body camera and it was “grabbed” during the arrest. Police have only been able to locate parts of the camera.
SA Police then say a number of nearby residents confronted the police and became “agitated”, and back-up officers were called.
“Defensive spray was deployed and other police arrived,” SA Police said, acknowledging the video had been shared to social media.
“The video shows a rear view of a police officer appearing to strike the man on the ground.”
A senior police officer is looking into the incident as they begin an internal investigation.
“The 28-year-old Kilburn man was initially arrested and charged with hinder police, resist police and property damage,” SA Police said.
“As part of the initial review, the man has been released from police custody and the incident is the subject of further investigation.
“Both the man and one of the police officers received minor injuries.”
