A police officer repeatedly punched a driver involved in a head-on crash in Brisbane while the driver was still inside their vehicle, graphic video shows.
Footage of the altercation published by Nine appears to show an officer repeatedly punching and hitting the driver while he was inside the vehicle. The driver also appears to be trying to get out of the car and has his legs dangling out the window.
The incident took place after a three-vehicle crash in Strathpine in Brisbane’s north shortly before 2pm on Thursday.
Police said in a statement that at 1.45pm, a police officer responded to a crash at the intersection of Gympie and Samsonvale roads when he was “confronted by a highly agitated male driver inside a vehicle”.
“Police will allege the man was drinking from a wine bottle and was under the influence of the substance. After the officer attempted to take the bottle away several times, it was allegedly thrown towards him.
“After giving numerous directions for the man to remain in the car, it will be alleged he continued to attempt to leave the vehicle by kicking the door into the officer, who used physical force to contain the man in the vehicle.”
Police said they Tasered the man as he continued to attempt to leave the car despite verbal warnings.
“Additional officers arrived on scene and another officer was allegedly spat on by the man.”
After officers arrested him, he was taken by ambulance to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s hospital for treatment to minor cuts, where he remains.
DEVELOPING: Shocking video has emerged in the aftermath of a car crash in Strathpine this afternoon.
— 9News Queensland (@9NewsQueensland) June 22, 2023
Witnesses have told #9News they saw a car crash before capturing a violent interaction with an officer on video.
More to come.
WATCH LIVE at 6pm for a FULL report. #9News pic.twitter.com/sLCPYOc86y
Christine, who was working at a shop on Gympie Road in Strathpine when the road collision occurred, said she heard a “loud bang”.
Christine, who declined to give her full name for privacy reasons, said a car that appeared to have been approaching the intersection from Bells Pocket Road had hit a fence and collided with vehicles that had been waiting to travel in the opposite direction.
“Old mate in the red ute got smashed,” she said.
While she didn’t see the crash itself, she heard a loud bang from where she was working inside the shop. Over the next two hours she heard a confrontation between the driver and police.
“It was ear-piercing,” she said of the police confrontation.
Queensland police said it is investigating the “serious three-vehicle crash”. Senior police have reviewed body-worn footage of the incident, and investigations are ongoing.
