The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into allegations that an officer used excessive force against a man during his arrest and was careless when escorting him resulting in him falling into the door of the Police car.
This incident was notified to the Authority after the man’s charges were withdrawn by Police when video footage showed the man being taken to the ground while he was in handcuffs and later falling into the door of the Police car. Concerns were also raised that the officer’s statement did not match the video footage of the incident.
Police found that the officer unnecessarily threw the man on the ground while he was handcuffed. Police also identified that the officer should have completed a tactical options report to record the force used. These actions breached the Police Code of Conduct and have been addressed through a confidential employment process.
Police were satisfied that the officer was not careless when escorting the man to the Police car, causing him to fall. They were also satisfied that the officer was not intentionally misleading in his statement to the Court, and it was more likely that his memory of the event was affected due to the time that had passed and his involvement in similar events in the intervening period.
The Authority considers Police appropriately investigated this matter and reached an appropriate outcome.
IPCA: 24-21331