Police camera footage shows the moment a man allegedly assaulted two officers. The incident has been condemned by senior police.
The video was captured by the body camera being worn by one of two officers who attended a reported domestic violence incident at Buff Point on the NSW Central Coast on Tuesday night.
The officers were approached at the scene by 35 year old William Kershaw. The man allegedly became extremely violent towards the pair. An alarming struggle erupted between the three when he resisted arrest. Kershaw allegedly spat at the one of the police officers and repeatedly punched the other, ripping hair from her scalp.
In the video, a woman – perhaps the policewoman – can be heard saying, “Don’t grab me, mate.” It then appears that Kershaw is held to the ground by a male officer before apparently breaking free. A male voice – perhaps the policeman’s – can then be heard demanding, “Let go of her, let go of her!”
“Deal with it!” another male voice – perhaps Kershaw’s – is heard saying as the female screams.
NSW police allege Kershaw attempted to choke the female officer. They also allege he twisted the genitals of the male officer, according to Nine News.
When the police officers eventually succeed in pinning Kershaw, he complains of not being able to breathe.
“Last time I moved you said you could breathe. And then you grab my partner by the hair and you wouldn’t let her go,” a male voice says on the police camera footage.
Kershaw has been charged with 13 offences, including assaulting police officers.
Senior figures slam alleged assault caught on police camera
Senior state police and government figures have condemned the alleged assault by Kershaw.
“Having our police assaulted, having any emergency service officer assaulted is just not on. Enough is enough and we won’t put up with it,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Max Mitchell told reporters.
“This is an inexcusable attack on two officers who were simply responding to a call out to protect members of our community late last night following reports of a domestic incident,” NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott said in a statement about the incident caught on police camera.
