Additional video footage provided to Canterbury Police today following the arrest of an aggressive man at a local gym earlier this week confirms the man was not struck by Police as has been claimed. This has also been backed by witnesses from the gym spoken to by Police.
Canterbury Police Area Response Manager, Inspector Derek Erasmus, said security video footage provided by the gym to Police showed that Police staff had acted appropriately in apprehending the man, who was arrested after trespassing and refusing to cooperate with Police requests to leave the property. This footage will be made available to view by media today.
Earlier this week a gym member posted cell-phone footage on social media, in which it was claimed an officer had struck the man.
"However the brief footage on social media, at just over 1 minute long, does not reflect the full context of what occurred, nor does it capture the threatening and aggressive behaviour witnessed beforehand by gym staff and Police" said Inspector Erasmus.
On Tuesday 17 November 2015 the man, who was not a gym member, appeared to have gained entry by tailgating a member. When asked to leave by gym staff, he told them that he would not leave unless forcibly removed by Police. The man, who is known to Police, was acting erratically and appeared to be impaired, and behaved threateningly towards gym staff.
When Police arrived they attempted to communicate with the man, who continued to respond aggressively and be uncooperative.
"Given the man's aggressive behaviour and the possibility of a weapon, such as a piece of gym equipment, being used Police were concerned for both their own safety and that of others nearby" explained Inspector Erasmus.
After further discussion the man began walking towards the exit, escorted by Police, but then stopped and became aggressive towards one of the officers. It was at this point that the officer swung his arm around the man to place him in a front headlock, which enabled Police to take him to the ground in a controlled manner. He was then handcuffed and arrested by staff and removed from the premises.
"These actions of Police are consistent with a review of the footage of the gym security cameras, which provides a clearer angle than that filmed by the gym member. At around two minutes long this also captures a longer time period. This footage confirms there was indeed no punch from the officer, nor any accompanying backwards motion from the man which you would expect to see had he been struck by a punch.”
"The security footage clearly shows the officer swinging his arm to trap the man in a front headlock, who is then pulled forward into the officer's body and taken to the ground, with other staff assisting in the arrest."
The man was subsequently taken to Police cells and monitored for his own safety, before being given a pre-charge warning and released.
As is standard practice with use of force events, the incident will be reviewed by Police. It has also been referred to the IPCA.
Police has also invited the gym member who filmed the footage posted on social media to come and view the security footage at the station to allay any concerns she might have.
ENDS
Media note: Footage from the gym security video is able be viewed by arrangement at Christchurch Central police Station between 2-2.30pm today (20 November 2015). However, in order to protect the privacy of individuals featured in the video, media are unable to film, copy or take screenshots of the footage.
If you wish to book a time to view the footage please text Canterbury Police District Communications Manager on 021 942 404.