A Man Is Reportedly In A Coma After Victorian Police Stomped On His Head
A passerby filmed police ram him with their car and stomp on his head as he tried to get up
Victorian Police have been caught on camera stomping on a man’s head and ramming him with a police car, in a shocking video that’s now being shared on social media.
The footage shows a man lying face down on a median strip with five officers standing around him. As he attempts to stand up one of the officers appears to stomp down, hard, before the man is properly restrained.
The video was taken yesterday afternoon by a passerby in Epping, in Melbourne’s north. It’s horrifying to watch.
#BREAKING New video shows police drive into a man in Epping before an officer stomped on his head during his arrest yesterday. The man, 32, was unarmed and was earlier at Northern Hospital for mental health help but police say he was aggressive and assaulted an officer. pic.twitter.com/RpzPW8Acyl
— Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) September 14, 2020
Earlier in the video you can also see a police car drive into the man, who is walking down the middle of the street.
In a statement to Junkee police said they had been called to reports of a man “behaving erratically”, and his arrest has since been referred to Professional Standards Command for oversight.
“Upon arrival the male allegedly became aggressive and damaged a police vehicle whilst attempting to avoid arrest,” the statement said.
“During the highly dynamic incident a police officer was assaulted and OC spray was deployed before the 32-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested and subsequently taken to hospital for assessment.”
It’s since emerged the man was being treated at the Northern Hospital for a bipolar episode when he ran away, prompting medical staff to call the police because they feared for his safety. He’s since been placed in an induced coma.
The man’s father told The Herald Sun the police’s actions were “extremely excessive”, and they should be held accountable.
“(My son) is a gentle giant, he has never been in trouble with the law. I feel sick to my guts, I am filled with anger seeing that video.”
“I take my hat off to police, they have the worst job in the world… But, this is not Australian. They don’t need to do that to a person with a mental illness, who didn’t even fight back. My son was scared and confused.”
Watch this and ask yourself: Does policing like this make our communities safer? https://t.co/RJehc8V9cZ
— Sally Rugg (@sallyrugg) September 14, 2020
The Police Service of Victoria thinks this is fine. I can’t run you over or stomp on your head with impunity, but Victoria Police absolutely can. pic.twitter.com/OXqEXN9aZC
— David Mejia-Canales (@dmejiacanales) September 14, 2020
No matter what crime is alleged to have occured, a stomp to the neck/head and a knee planted on the offender’s neck is totally out of line. Victoria Police having a Barry Crocker. pic.twitter.com/n5jySKC4bI
— Rohanct (@RohanCT) September 13, 2020
Police did not specify whether the man was charged with any crime.