Franesko Vamvakaris accused of assaulting teen, dad during citizen’s arrest: Court

A man allegedly pretended to be a cop as he performed citizen’s arrests on a teenage couple and a family he believed were on drugs.

Mr Vamvakaris allegedly approached a family at Jells Park in Wheelers Hill. Picture: Penny Stephen

A man allegedly pretended to be a cop as he performed citizen’s arrests on a teenage couple and a family he believed were on drugs.

Franesko Vamvakaris appeared before the Ringwood Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with impersonating a police officer and unlawful assault.

Mr Vamvakaris allegedly approached a young family — who had a 18-month-old child with them — at Jells Park in Wheelers Hill.

Mr Vamvakaris allegedly pretended he was a police officer at Jells Park in Wheelers Hill. Picture: Penny Stephens

He told the father he was an off duty police officer and requested he provide his name and address.

When the dad didn’t comply, the court heard Mr Vamvakaris shoved him twice.

Mr Vamvakaris allegedly approached a teenage couple at the Glen. Picture: Andrew Tauber.

Later that day, Mr Vamvakaris approached a teenage couple who was sitting in The Glen shopping centre food court after school.

He allegedly again pretended to be an undercover cop and asked the 16-year-old boy to come with him for a drug search before grabbing his arm.

This incident was caught on the shopping centre’s CCTV cameras.

During his court appearance on Monday, Mr Vamvakaris — who has since moved to Thailand — indicated he was contesting the charges, claiming he was performing a citizen’s arrest because both the family and the teenagers were affected by drugs.

This claim was denied by the prosecution.

Mr Vamvakaris, who works as a citizen journalist, said he planned to fight the charges.

The matter was adjourned until for a contested hearing on August 11.