‘Absolute disgrace’: Police arrest teen after social media cop attack

A teenage boy has been arrested on the Mid North Coast after a graphic attack on a female police officer was filmed and posted to Instagram.

A 16-year-old, who was one of the people identified in a crime spree video posted to social media, was arrested on Friday. Picture: NSW Police.

A teenage boy has been arrested after a violent ambush on a female police officer on the NSW Mid North Coast after the graphic attack was filmed and posted to Instagram.

The 16-year-old was taken into custody on Friday afternoon as part of Operation Soteria, the state’s youth crime taskforce.

It comes a day after The Daily Telegraph revealed footage of a large rock being hurled at a marked police car, shattering the windscreen as the officer ducked for cover.

She escaped uninjured and is understood to be doing well.

The teen has been charged with stolen vehicle offences.

Police allege he is linked to the same group behind “Kempsey’s Most Dangerous” Instagram account.

The police officer attempts to shield from the rock which smashes the windscreen of the police vehicle. Picture: Instagram

The page features videos of stolen cars, home invasions, and the now-infamous footage of a large rock being hurled at a police car.

Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos, who leads Operation Soteria, said police are closing in on others involved.

“It’s an absolute disgrace,” Deputy Commissioner Pisanos said.

“We will not tolerate police being treated this way for simply doing their job.”

“We’ll keep going until we identify and arrest every person involved, and we will take action accordingly.”

“We’re pushing extra staffing into these locations where we’re seeing this violence.”

State MP for Oxley Michael Kemp said the community has had enough.

“The public are sick of it,” he said.

“They expect us to do something. But we’re stuck in a revolving door of the judicial system.”

The “post and boast” trend sees teens film their crimes for social media fame and notoriety.

In 2024, the state government strengthened bail laws and brought in new “post and boast” offence penalties, aiming to deter individuals from glorifying their crimes online.

Police say investigations are ongoing and more search warrants will be executed in the coming days.

Originally published as ‘Absolute disgrace’: Police arrest teen after social media cop attack