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An Australian woman at the center of a dramatic arrest at a Covid-19 checkpoint north of Melbourne is expected to be charged with assaulting the police.
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The woman filmed herself being pulled from the car by a police officer while being arrested. Source: Natalie Bonett / Facebook
A video shared on Facebook by Natalie Bonett shows the 29-year-old being dragged out of the driver’s seat after refusing to get out of her car in Kalkallo, about 60 kilometers north of the city.
“I am shaking, crying and in utter disbelief that I was treated this way,” Bonett, who was wearing a mask, wrote of the incident.
Police confirmed that Bonett was arrested after allegedly refusing to provide her details and her driver’s license.
“Police spoke with the driver at the checkpoint regarding her mobile phone obstructing her view due to its position on the windshield and explained that this was a crime,” said a statement from Victoria Police.
“The woman refused to remove the phone from the windshield.”
In the video posted on Facebook, the male officer can be heard asking for Bonett’s name and address.
“The problem is that he is not telling me his name,” the officer is heard saying.
Bonett again refused to get out of the car.
“I don’t feel safe. You’re armed,” she said.
“You’re safe, don’t worry about it,” replied the officer.
The footage then shows the officer leaning toward the vehicle as Bonett protests, before she is forcibly removed.
When she is removed, a man can be heard saying “she’s sick.” It is not clear if she was referring to Covid-19 or another disease.
Police said Bonett had been warned that she would be arrested if she did not provide her details.
She was later released and is expected to be charged under citation for driving with darkened vision, failing to produce a license, not saying her name and address, resisting arrest, assaulting police and offensive language.
“Victoria Police remind all drivers that the Road Safety Act requires that they state their name and address and present their driver’s license when requested by a police officer,” the police statement said.
Meanwhile, police arrested at least one person after anti-blockade protesters gathered in Melbourne for a second day.
Dozens of protesters who shouted were outnumbered by officers at the Queen Victoria Market on Sunday.
Images of a violent fight between a man and about six officers have been posted online.
The police issued a total of 200 fines to people for violating the health director’s instructions during the past 24 hours.
Among them, 48 for non-compliance with the curfew, 16 for not covering their face without an approved reason and nine at vehicle checkpoints.
