Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s fury at anti-lockdown protester

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller has slammed an anti-lockdown protester who was filmed screaming as police tried to arrest her on the weekend, saying she put a young child in danger.

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An anti-vaccine cosmetic nurse arrested during an illegal coronavirus lockdown protest is to blame for putting a young child in danger, according to NSW’s top cop.

Renee Altakrity, 36, was filmed screaming while being arrested alongside a four-year-old boy outside NSW parliament on Saturday.

The anti-vaxxer cosmetic nurse was taking part in an “Exercise Our Rights” protest which is lobbying against the government’s coronavirus restrictions on businesses and crowds.

Harrowing vision circulated on social media of the woman resisting police while clinging to the boy who was crying.

Renee Altakrity speaking to police.

Police were told to move Ms Altakrity on, however she refused.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller told 2GB’s Ben Fordham yesterday afternoon he “felt sorry” for the young boy.

“If this woman had given police her details at the scene, she would’ve been given a ticket and would’ve left … but she refused to do that. She caused this,” the commissioner said.

“They all went there knowing it was an unlawful protest so why you’re taking a four-year-old into that situation is beyond me.”

Police Commissioner Mick Fuller. Picture: Dean Lewins/AAP

Commissioner Fuller adamantly defended the actions of his officers.

“I think the police showed an enormous amount of restraint. I certainly hope she pleads not guilty so that (police body cam) footage comes out,” he said.

Commissioner Fuller said the protest was illegal because protesters had not informed authorities and they were breaching coronavirus restrictions.

Altakrity was fined $1000 for breaching coronavirus rules. She is also under investigation for allegedly operating her beauty business in contravention of coronavirus restrictions.

Renee Altakrity was arrested for taking part in an unauthorised protest against coronavirus restrictions in Sydney's CBD.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ms Altakrity, who runs a cosmetic surgery service, has been reported to police for possibly breaching lockdown restrictions.

Ms Altakrity told The Daily Telegraph she “looks outside the square” and uses her “strong intuition” when deciding whether to take medical advice from doctors or health experts and this is what led her to Saturday’s protest.

“There are flaws in what people have been told by the mainstream media or what they have been told by politicians,” she said.

“I felt passionate that the COVID measures are extreme, the stuff that doesn’t stack up.

“There is a reason why when things are posted on the internet that is against the mainstream media or the government message they are taken down quickly.”

Altakrity being placed in a van.

She was subsequently taken to the police station.

The video of her arrest quickly went viral on social media prompting the NRL’s anti-vaxxer WAGS to post their opinions on the event.

Anti-vax influencer Taylor Winterstein, and wife of sportsman Frank Winterstein, told her almost 50,000 followers on Instagram “we need to use these experiences to actually fuel the fire to take action and shut this shit down for once and for all”.

However, in the three-minute-long tirade, she did not explain what would be “shut down” but urged her fans to take action – without any clear instruction.

Altakrity was arrested in front of a distraught young boy. Picture: YouTube

“Now is the time to play nice or play small, it hasn’t gotten us to where we need to get to so far. It’s enough of that. I’m so done with playing small and being quiet and playing the nice guy,” she said.

Ms Winterstein had previously advertised a $200 per head speaking tour where she would explain how to make “informed choices”.

Her messages urging people to not get vaccinated against viruses have routinely been debunked by doctors and health officials.

Taylor Winterstein has said that there is a "strong core of families" in the NRL who are also anti-vaxxers. Picture: Instagram

Her friend and partner of embattled Gold Coast Titan’s player Bryce Cartwright, Shanelle Cartwright also posted a picture of the woman on Instagram. “This is them peacefully walking, exercising their rights. Not harassing anyone and not in a big crowd. Abiding by all the COVID restrictions,” she said.

In the picture, only the woman and child are seen. Not the 40 other protesters in breach of social distancing regulations.

Originally published as Police Commissioner Mick Fuller’s fury at anti-lockdown protester