SA Police officer Simon Mark Johnson standing trial over the assault of a man he was arresting

Jurors have been shown police helicopter footage of an arrest that has left an officer accused of smashing a man’s head into a road. See the video.

A South Australian police officer accused of “smashing” a man’s head into a road during an arrest told another officer to turn off his body camera before the incident, a court has heard.

Simon Mark Johnson, 38, is standing trial in the District Court after he was charged with assaulting Lennard Gordon Kennard Ware in the early morning of October 19, 2019.

Prosecutor Dr Peter Salu told the court in his opening statement that Mr Johnson allegedly slammed Mr Ware’s head into the road after asking another uniformed officer to turn his body worn camera off.

Simon Mark Johnson outside the District Court with his wife. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

“Johnson approaches (the other officer) touches him on the chest and says words to the effect: ‘turn that off right now’,” he said.

“(The other officer) is told again by the accused to turn it off, (the officer) says ‘it’s not on’.

“It is on the prosecution case that Ware is on the ground, sitting, cuffed to his rear.

“Johnson gets into his face says words to the affect ‘you almost crashed into me’ and some other things … there’s a little bit of man handling.

“The accused shoves Ware’s head into the footpath so hard it makes a noise.”

Lennard Ware was allegedly assaulted by South Australian police officer Simon Johnson. Picture: Facebook

Dr Salu said Mr Johnson had previously deployed road spikes which had punctured the tyres of the car being driven by the alleged victim.

Mr Ware, who appeared via video link from custody in New South Wales, told the jury his head was “smashed” into the road during his arrest.

“He’s grabbed the back of my head and smashed it into the road,” Mr Ware said when questioned by Dr Salu.

“I didn’t want to move, I was scared … he’s just smashed my head into the road.

“I didn’t say anything at all, I was scared.”

Dr Salu also said another police officer assaulted Mr Ware earlier that morning by kicking him after he surrendered to police.

“A police officer, not the accused … is seen to kick Ware a number of times,” he said.

“It’s actually captured on the footage from the helicopter.”

Dr Salu and David Edwardson KC, for Mr Johnson, both said Mr Ware admitted to having methamphetamine in his system at the time of the arrest.

The trial continues before a jury.