Wild footage has captured the moment police punch and kneel on a man after he allegedly hit an officer in the face during a dramatic arrest.
Victoria Police allege the 37-year-old man had been on a vandalism spree across Melbourne before they caught up with him in Broadmeadows, in the city’s north, on Tuesday.
During the arrest, a female officer is seen repeatedly punching the shirtless man as another kneels on his neck in a bid to subdue him.
Police have defended the officers’ actions, saying the man had allegedly punched an officer in the face and forcefully resisted arrest before they used capsicum spray on him.
The officer was not seriously injured and was treated at the scene.
The man, from the outer northwestern suburb of Gladstone Park, has been charged with assault-related offences.
It’s alleged the man had been on a morning rampage in nearby suburbs, punching several poker machines at a licensed venue in Airport West at about 10am.
Police allege he then threw a rock at the screen of anther gaming machine at a venue on Mickleham Road, in Gladstone Park, before fleeing on foot.
A male officer kneeled on the man’s neck several times during the dramatic arrest (pictured)
A female officer was seen punching the shirtless man several times in the footage (pictured)
Police say the man arrived at the Broadmeadows Police Station at 11.45am, where he threw a rock at a marked police car, smashing its windscreen.
He then ran down the road to Broadmeadows Square, where he was arrested.
The man was remanded to appear before Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
