Woman arrested at Dayman St General Store after refusing to show Covid vaccination status| VIDEO

Dramatic footage where a woman can be seen yelling at police arresting her for her repeated refusal to show her vaccination status has been revealed as police and the business owner speak out. UPDATED VIDEO, PHOTOS.

Videos of the moment a cafe customer, who repeatedly refused to show her vaccination status, was arrested by a group of police officers before being put into the back of a paddy wagon screaming, have gone viral.

It comes after the woman, known as Rebecca, reportedly drank a coffee at Hervey Bay’s Dayman St General Store where, in accordance with COVID-19 rules, only those who have had two doses of the vaccination are allowed to dine in and, asked by police to provide proof of her vaccination status, she refused.

According to the Queensland Police Service, officers who went to the store on Wednesday, were acting on a tip-off from members of the public who were concerned the cafe wasn’t following the rules.

A QPS spokesman said the cafe had previously received a warning from police on Christmas Eve when they had provided an outdoor area for unvaccinated customers but were ultimately told unvaccinated people could not stay on the premises.

In the video, Rebecca can be seen yelling at police who, while escorting her to the car, repeat that they are arresting her for her refusal to comply.

One person can be heard lashing out at the officers, telling them his taxes pay their wages while another calls them ‘filth’ and says what a ‘f****ed country we live in’ as police explain to Rebecca that she is under arrest and place her into the back of the police van.

The post has been shared more than 350 times and has more than 500 comments and divided opinion with comments ranging from “Thanks for sharing your views, we now know not to visit your establishment” to “You guys are so awesome. Hope Rebecca is okay. Will be there supporting you, even if only takeaway”.

Store owner Matt Straight told the Fraser Coast Chronicle on Thursday he had been confronted by five police officers and two police cars around midday Wednesday to ask if the business was checking vaccine statuses.

He claims he explained he had signage up at every opportunity and police told him they were going to check each customer’s vaccine status.

“We have signs on every door, check in barcodes on every door and the back of every menu, on the counter. We’re doing our best to adhere to state and federal legislation,” he said.

He did not however confirm if he was asking each customer to show their vaccination status.

According to Mr Straight, the police split into teams of two and began checking customers’ vaccine statuses when they came across, Rebecca, who refused to provide her medical documentation.

“Rebecca had already stood up and was leaving the premise on her own accord when the police asked for her vaccination status,” Mr Straight said.

Rebecca declined to provide her medical records to police but offered her name and address and police took her outside for further questioning.

Dayman General Store – Pulgul Street, Urangan. Photo: FILE

Mr Straight said he thought the police had left and he was tidying up in the garden area when he heard Rebecca “shout out for help”.

“It was a team of police walking towards this little old lady (the Chronicle understands she is only 46), and they said she still needed to provide her medical record which she declined,” he said.

“I asked what she had been arrested for, and they said for obstructing justice.”

Rebecca was put in the back of the police car and taken to the police station where she was in the watchouse for two hours and fingerprinted.

She was given a court date for March 10, a $1300 fine and charged with obstructing an officer's ability to do their duties and not providing her name and address.

After being released, Rebecca returned to the cafe to let the owner know she was okay.

Rebecca had heavy bruising on her arm which she claimed was from being handled by police.

The QPS spokesman told the Fraser Coast Chronicle “Acting on the information from members of the public, officers attended an Urangan cafe on January 12 to ensure the business and its patrons were complying with the current Chief Health Officer’s public health directions.

“A woman, who was a patron of the cafe, repeatedly refused to provide her (vaccination) details when approached by officers.

“After several warnings, the 46-year-old Toogoom woman was arrested and charged with contravene a direction (fail to state name and address) and obstruct police.

“She is due to appear in the Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on March 10.

“The vast majority of the Wide Bay community has been very compliant with the public health directions throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and we urge members of the public to continue to work with us in the interests of keeping our community safe,”.

The Chronicle reached out to Rebecca but she declined to comment.