Warning
'HE’S CHOKING ME'
THIS is the shocking moment a Melbourne cop appears to choke a woman during a violent arrest after she was caught not wearing a face mask.
The footage was taken by an onlooker in an apartment building in the Collingwood area of the Australian city at around 5pm on Monday.
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In the film the 21-year-old woman can be seen speaking to the cop without a face mask.
Currently Melbourne and Mitchell Shire are under strict lockdown restrictions due to an outbreak of the coronavirus and people must wear a face mask when they leave the house or face a $200 fine.
However, it is thought the woman had an exemption due to a medical condition, but this has not been verified.
In the first clip, which has been posted on Facebook, the pair appear to be arguing in the street when the officer grabs the woman by her arm but she resists.
A struggle between the two starts and the woman appears to place her hands around the officer’s vest, with the officer then retaliating by placing his hands around her neck.
The woman then screamed: “What the f**k?” as she tried to free herself and told the cop “Get the f**k off me.”
A man, said to be her boyfriend, then appears, who is seen filming the incident from the pavement as another police officer shows up.
In another clip, the female officer can be heard telling the woman to let go of the officer’s vest.
'GET THE F**K OFF ME'
The male cop though keeps his grip around her neck as she claims: “He’s choking me.”
The officer then pushes the woman against the wall and she removes her hands from his vest and punches him in the chest and attempts to kick the female officer.
The woman can be heard yelling: “F**k you. Get the f**k off me.
“What are you doing? You’re f***ing choking me. You’re f***ing choking me, dude, what the f**k.”
The woman is then pulled to the ground by the male cop who tries to push her face down to arrest her.
But the woman continues to resist, saying: “What have I done?”
In the next clip the male cop can be seen sitting on top of the woman as he waits for back up.
She can be seen struggling with her feet flapping against the pavement.
The man, thought to be her boyfriend, then tells the cop to get off her and claims she has an excuse for not wearing a mask.
He said: “She went to the doctor yesterday. Look what you're causing. You're f***ing hypocrites.
“There’s a man on a girl and you choked her.
“For what? For a mask? For not having a mask? Look how pathetic you are! Are you serious? Just for not having a mask?”
The woman can then be heard saying: ”Go f*** yourself. Go f*** yourself officer.
“Why am I under arrest? Assault? I did not assault you, you grabbed me.”
'HE'S CHOKING ME'
Victoria Police said the woman had been arrested after “she refused to provide identification for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions”.
A police spokesperson said: “Police made the decision to arrest the woman after she failed to provide her name and address.
“She then became physically aggressive and kicked a female officer to the upper body.
“The woman continued to resist arrest and had to be taken to ground before being arrested.”
She was bailed to appear at court at a later date and the arrest has been referred to Professional Standards Command.
However, she did not receive a fine for failing to wear a face mask because she later told police she had an exemption.
The arrest came after about 30 people took part in a “freedom rally” in Melbourne to protest about the coronavirus lockdown in Melbourne on Sunday.
Cops made six arrests after they refused to provide their personal details to police, but were later released with a $1,652 fine after they complied.
Premier Dan Andrews announced the tougher restrictions on August 2.
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He promised to crackdown on those disobeying the lockdown rules, saying there would be more police and Australian Defence Force personnel out in force ensuring residents are abiding by the directions of the Chief Health Officer.
Huge fines of up to $19,826 for individuals and $99,132 for businesses will apply to anyone caught breaking the rules.
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“Those doing the wrong thing will cop a fine from Victoria Police, because the only way to beat this deadly virus is if we all follow the rules,” Mr Andrews said.
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