Man allegedly bites, punches police trying to break up fight at St Kilda beach

A man has been arrested after allegedly punching and biting police at St Kilda beach, but another act first caught officers’ attention.

Police officers have allegedly been punched and bitten after they tried to break up a fight at a crowded St Kilda beach.

As Melburnians flocked to St Kilda to soak up the city’s warmest day since January, it got a little more heated when a scuffle broke out about 7pm on Thursday.

Senior Constable Alistair Parsons said officers were patrolling St Kilda foreshore at South Beach Reserve and were trying to break up the scuffle when a man attempted to insert himself in the situation and interfere with police horses.

He said the man was warned about not wearing a mask and asked to leave the area.

“The 29-year-old man was again seen in the area without a mask and refused to stop and talk to police,” Constable Parsons said.

“He then became aggressive and punched and bit police when officers attempted to speak to him.”

Police handcuff a man on St Kilda beach after a scuffle broke out. Picture: Twitter/@AngeMaryClaire

Police were forced to use capsicum spray to subdue and arrest the man.

The Reservoir man has been charged and bailed with assault-related offences.

He was also fined after being found to be in breach of the chief health officer’s directions.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said their were several incidents of “disregard for public behaviour” and a lot of rowdy beachgoers were moved on.

He said there were several thousand people at St Kilda beach on Thursday night and flare-ups and some public order issues throughout the night.

Crowds have flocked to St Kilda beach since restrictions have lifted. Picture: Wayne Taylor

“It was a very busy, hot night and we were down there in reasonable numbers and there were some issues,” Mr Patton told 3AW.

It comes after organisers of two “illegal” Melbourne beach parties were fined after large crowds gathered in breach of coronavirus restrictions at four beaches last weekend.

Outdoor gatherings in public places are limited to 10 people under the current chief health officer directions, but at least 100 partygoers were filmed drinking and dancing on a secluded beach at Black Rock on Sunday.

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Originally published as Man allegedly bites, punches police trying to break up fight at St Kilda beach