[ad_1]
A Christchurch police officer “crossed the line” when he pushed a man to the ground who insulted him during a late-night altercation.
Police were called to a party attended by about 200 people at a property on Waimairi Rd in Ilam shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday.
Images of the incident, which have been circulating on social media, including pages linked to students at the University of Canterbury, show three people yelling at the officer.
SUPPLIED
The officer pushed the man to the ground and pointed at him saying, “They told you to go home, now go home.”
Before turning to leave, the officer says to one of the women: “I’m sure you are very proud to have a fox daughter.”
READ MORE:
* Teen charged after allegedly stabbing a police officer during the family injury incident call
* Police officer stabbed in car while attending Canterbury family injury incident
* Pregnant woman forced to the ground, kneeling by US police.
* Canterbury Police Arrest Nine In Gang Raids Using Helicopters
The group tells the officer “f … off”, another woman says “she’s not a slut” before one of the men says, “F … off c … Mrs. skanky.”
The officer then approaches the man, pushes him to the ground and points at him saying, “They told you to go home, now go home.”
The video garnered more than 700 reactions, 500 comments, and 20 shares in just 11 hours on a Facebook page.
A formal complaint has been filed regarding the officer’s actions and an investigation is now underway.
Alden Williams / Stuff
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price says a formal complaint was filed about the officer’s actions and an investigation is underway. (File photo)
A student at the University of Canterbury, who lives on Waimairi Rd, near the property in question, witnessed the incident on film.
The students had been drinking for most of the night, he said. Around 50 or more spilled onto the street around 9pm and around 15 policemen were dispatched to “displace” the crowd.
“They were being loud and all that. There was a lot of screaming and screaming. “
The student said that the police formed a wall and began to disperse the students, causing some to run, while others were “disobedient” and refused to leave.
He said some students tried to hide from the police in their yard and when he and his roommates told them to leave, they became “gaping” and “a little aggressive.”
“The students were not in a good mentality to deal with the police … the tensions were quite high.”
The situation was mishandled by both sides, he said.
“The police are there to keep order and protect and I feel like they did that to a certain extent, and then they crossed the line.
“I feel bad that the police officer felt he needed to pressure that student, but the students were at odds for a long period before that.
“I know he doesn’t do it right, he was bad, he was drunk and he was on concrete … he could have hit his head and could have been a lot worse.”
The student said that in the three years he had lived on the street there had been other parties in the apartment, but never anything that escalated to the point of Thursday’s event.
Canterbury District Commander Superintendent John Price said Things the police were aware of the video.
“The New Zealand Police have high expectations of all of our staff that they exemplify the core values of the police in every interaction with the public.
“We have zero tolerance for unjustified violence in our communities. Any behavior that does not meet the standards expected of a police officer in this regard is unacceptable and will be investigated.
ALDEN WILLIAMS / Stuff
The Acting Executive Director of Student Services at the University of Canterbury, Paul O’Flaherty, says he is “extremely concerned” by the officer’s actions. (File photo).
The Acting Executive Director of Student Services at the University of Canterbury, Paul O’Flaherty, said he was “extremely concerned” by the officer’s actions.
The university was working with the University of Canterbury Student Association (UCSA) to support those involved and encouraged witnesses to contact police, he said.
“The University of Canterbury does not condone any action that harms the welfare of our students. As it is now a police matter, we cannot comment further at this time. ”
UCSA President Kim Fowler said the association was aware of the video and hoped those involved were okay.
“We encourage those involved to contact the police. In situations like these, our advocacy and welfare team should help support UC students throughout the process if necessary. “
