West Australian police goons again

And it took a newspaper to "bring it to the attention" of police authorities. Too bad about the 99% of cases where newspapers don't get involved

POLICE have been filmed kicking and kneeing a man on the ground during a brutal arrest - sparking an internal police investigation and moves to have the officers charged. A spokesman for Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan confirmed on Friday that "an internal investigation (is) under way into this matter".

The Sunday Times alerted his office to the incident, which occurred in William St, City, in May last year but was only revealed by related court proceedings three months ago.

The spokesman said the Commissioner could not comment until the investigation finished "as he may have to adjudicate over any disciplinary proceedings that might arise from it".

Lawyer Shash Nigam said he was submitting evidence, including city council CCTV footage, to Mr O'Callaghan and the Corruption and Crime Commission because his client, ceramic tiler Richard Korculanic, 37, believed two officers should be charged with assault for the way they arrested him.

In March Magistrate Robert Black described one male officer's actions as "an assault" and raised concerns about police kicking people, during a hearing where he threw out the sole charge against Mr Korculanic of obstructing a public officer.

"It concerns me greatly that in the last two weeks I have heard matters whereby police officers have kicked people they are involved with," Mr Black said after acquitting Mr Korculanic in Perth Magistrates Court on March 2.

He said Mr Korculanic had not been threatening and the fact that he had asked why he was being handcuffed "does not enable a police officer to push someone vigorously in the manner that (the male officer) did". Mr Black said: "That's an assault."

About 11pm on May 24, 2009, in William St, police told Mr Korculanic and two friends, who were talking to several young people, to lean against a police car to be searched. In court, the officer claimed the trio were suspected of having stolen "cash cards" and money, but conceded that proved incorrect.

CCTV footage showed the male officer slamming Mr Korculanic against the car after he turned to speak to a female officer. Mr Korculanic said he was only asking why he was being cuffed. The film then showed the woman officer tackling him, the male officer holding him around the neck, then the woman kneeing him.

Footage also showed the male officer kicking him. The officer admitted in court he had "kicked him in the shoulder twice", claiming Mr Korculanic was moving towards hypodermic needles he had earlier placed on the ground. However, Mr Black said there was "absolutely no reason for that (the kicking) to occur".

Mr Korculanic wants publicity for his case because he is concerned about police getting more power with mandatory sentencing and proposed stop and search laws. Of the William St incident he said: "What did I assault? His shoes when he was kicking me in the head? Lucky there were cameras."

Original report here. (Via Australian Politics)



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