Officers injured by high school student in Bankstown wedding brawl
A student, who is sitting for his HSC exams, shoulder charged a police officer and swung his fist at another when officers attempted to break up a brawl at a wedding reception.
The Express
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Police officers, who tried to stop a brawl during a wedding reception in Bankstown, were shoulder charged and attacked by a high school student who was later subdued with a taser and OC spray.
Amit Foisa Mika, 18 of Yagoona, — who is sitting for his HSC exams — was arrested with three others at the Highline venue in Saigon Plaza, Chapel St, Bankstown, on the evening of Saturday, October 5.
One senior constable was treated for a dislocated shoulder and another for capsicum spray contamination.
Mika, Kama Taani, 21, from Minto, Sione Taani, 19, from Airds, and Luke Ray-Stan Tauelima, 27, from Bringelly, faced Bankstown Local Courts on Wednesday.
Bankstown Police said they were alerted to the brawl at the venue at 7.10pm on October 5, and saw 15 to 20 people fighting.
“Police observed a group of people grappling each other, and police requested that they break up and disperse,” a police statement tendered to court said.
Police allege that when they went to the group, a man turned to them and screamed: “What the f … are you going to do”, and slapped the officers’ arms away.
Police said they feared there was going to be a violent confrontation and an officer “deployed OC spray at the aggressive male”.
While the spray was being deployed, Mika had allegedly charged the police with his left arm raised, with an officer then using the capsicum spray again.
Police said one of their senior constables had to bump off a shoulder charge while Mika swung at another officer.
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An officer then struck Mika with his baton while at the same time, the male was tasered, which effectively incapacitated him. He was arrested and taken to Bankstown police station.
Police said the entire incident has been captured by their body cameras and CCTV at the Highline venue.
Mika, who is now living with his grandfather in Yagoona, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting two officers. He has been released on bail and will be sentenced on Wednesday, November 13.
Kama Taani, Sione Taani and Luke Ray-Stan Tauelima — who are on bail — did not enter any pleas when their cases came up. Their cases have been adjourned until November 13.