Police officers have been caught on camera ramming a mentally ill father with their car before stomping on his head in a fierce arrest that took place in Australia.
The incident occurred in Epping, Melbourne, where a 32-year-old father-of-three has been left in a coma following his showdown with the police.
According to the reports, the roof plumber had been staying at the Northern Hospital for psychiatric treatment prior to his encounter with the police.
After allegedly waiting for his turn to be seen for more than a day and a half, the 32-year-old, who suffers from bipolar disorder, fled the hospital, prompting the staff to alert the police.
Just after 4 in the afternoon, the authorities managed to track down the plumber who was walking down the street at the time.
A few moments after their arrival, the police rammed the man with their car, causing him to collapse to the ground. The 32-year-old reportedly got up and the police continued chasing him on foot.
As seen in the footage taken by eyewitnesses George Michael and Jake Edwards, several officers eventually surrounded the man who was already on his fours at the time. Suddenly, one of the cops raised his right leg and stomped violently on the father’s head.
According to the witnesses, the cops proceeded to knee and kick the suspect in the head once he had already been restrained.
Following the brutal arrest, Edwards branded the actions of Victoria Police as “disgusting” and “unjustifiable.”
“We’ve seen a police car ram into, sending him flying a few meters across the road. He got up and the foot chase continued. They run up to the median strip (and) the man did throw a punch or two,” Edwards recalled in an interview with Daily Mail Australia.
“Then pepper spray was used, punches from the police were thrown. While they were bringing him down and he wasn’t restrained yet there were kicks to the head.
“The worst part of it all is while he was restrained with five to six officers on him, there was a stomp to the head and then a knee to the head. Disgusting.”
After the incident, Edwards and his partner posted the disturbing video on social media where people have slammed the actions of the police and called for accountability.
According to the 32-year-old’s father, Glen, his son was placed in an induced coma after being rushed to the hospital to receive treatment for his injuries.
“The police had no right to do what they did,” Glen told Radio 3AW. “This bloke needs to be accountable and lose his job,” he added, referring to the cop who stomped on his son’s head.
#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
ADVERTISEMENT — Paul Dowsley (@paul_dowsley) September 14, 2020
Following the backlash, Victoria Police claimed that the suspect was arrested after “attempting to avoid arrest” and damaging a police car.
“Upon arrival the male allegedly became aggressive and damaged a police vehicle whilst attempting to avoid arrest,” the spokesperson for the police told Daily Mail Australia.
“During the highly dynamic incident a police officer was assaulted and OC spray was deployed before the man was arrested and subsequently taken to hospital for assessment.”
Replaced!