12-year-old boy shown ‘crying in the gutter’ after arrest in Townsville

A video showing a 12-year-old boy crying and lying in a gutter following his arrest in Townsville has surfaced on social media. Find out what allegedly happened.

A still from the video showing the 12-year-old boy lying on the street after his arrest. Source: Facebook

A video showing a 12-year-old boy crying and lying in a gutter following his arrest in Townsville has surfaced on social media.

The footage, posted on Facebook, shows the boy on Gordon Street, Garbutt, crying loudly as bystanders question police about his condition.

The boy was arrested on Wednesday night for allegedly breaking into the nearby IGA store, with police arriving at the scene to find the store’s glass doors smashed and him inside.

Police allege the boy fled on foot, ignoring instructions from officers to stop.

They said following a short foot chase, the boy was arrested and sustained minor scrapes to his leg.

The video footage shows a bystander challenging an officer on the scene, asking why the boy had not been taken to the hospital and why he was lying, crying in the gutter.

“We want to take him to the hospital, in our car, but you guys want the ambulance here, so we’re waiting …” an officer responds in the video.

A still from the video showing the 12-year-old boy lying on the street after his arrest. Source: Facebook

The bystander, visibly upset, presses further, asking who was responsible for the boy’s injuries.

“He tried to run, and you should go see the IGA, mate; he smashed up the glass,” the officer explains.

The boy, through tears, claims he was slammed onto the road by the officers.

In response to the growing online concern, a spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service provided further details about the incident.

The spokesperson said the officers had moved the boy from the road to the footpath and immediately contacted paramedics.

“Police requested the boy move from the gutter multiple times, however the boy refused,” the spokesperson said.

 “He was taken to Townsville University Hospital and treated for a superficial scratch to his knee before being deemed fit for custody.”

Police stated they had spoken to the boy’s family and support workers regarding the arrest and confirmed that no formal complaints had been made about police conduct.

The boy has been charged with two counts of entering premises and committing an indictable offence by break, along with charges of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, obstructing a police officer, and breach of bail.

He was refused bail and was set to reappear in the Townsville Children’s Court Friday, October 25.

Originally published as 12-year-old boy shown ‘crying in the gutter’ after arrest in Townsville