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A policeman in a wild moment is allegedly violently assaulted in the middle of a press conference where police vowed to crack down on the scourge of crime.
- Sergeant Major Gary Hunter was addressing the media
- As he did so, another police officer allegedly attacked off-camera.
- The policeman suffered facial injuries in the random attack.
A police officer was allegedly assaulted in the middle of a press conference about the Queensland crime wave.
Queensland Police Sergeant Major Gary Hunter was addressing the media in Cairns, in the far north of the state, on Monday morning when the random attack happened.
He was talking about a new police operation to tackle drug violence in Cairns when the screaming broke out.
Behind the media, another police officer was allegedly randomly attacked by a man as Sergeant Hunter looked on in shock.
Finally, five policemen knocked the man down and held him down.
Five officers tackled the man to the ground, while chants of ‘hands behind his back’ could be heard.
The 68-year-old man declined to give a name as he was ultimately restrained.
He was then taken away in a police van, with one officer suffering facial injuries in the alleged assault.
The man has been charged with one count of felony assault on a police officer.
He is due to appear before Cairns Magistrates Court on March 16.
At the press conference, Sergeant Major Hunter spoke about alcohol-induced violence in the city.
The man was taken away in a police van, and one officer suffered facial injuries in the alleged assault.
At the press conference, Sergeant Major Hunter addressed alcohol-induced violence in the city.
“Today, the police are launching Operation Victor Craven, which primarily targets alcohol-induced violence,” Hunter said.
“We will be targeting the Cairns central business district and the Cairns Esplanade precinct.”
It comes after thousands of residents and community leaders across North Queensland called on the state government to introduce a Prohibited Drinkers Registry (BDR) and other measures to curb alcohol-fuelled violence.
Earlier this month, Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill, Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and Mount Isa Mayor Danielle Slade wrote a letter to Deputy Prime Minister Steven Miles on the issue.