Gippsland teen in hospital after flare-up with cop on Bunyip blaze frontline
A teenager who lost everything when his family’s vineyard was razed in the Bunyip bushfire says he was grabbed by the throat and flung to the ground by a policeman, while trying to save their injured cat.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Gippsland family who lost everything in the Bunyip bushfire says they are “devastated and disgusted” that their teenage son is in hospital after an altercation with a police officer.
Charlie Clarke, 19, was on Wednesday night recovering after the altercation, near Tonimbuk, that afternoon.
Speaking to the Herald Sun from his hospital bed, the teenager claimed he was grabbed by the throat and thrown to the ground by the policeman, who then turned on his mother and younger sister.
OTHER NEWS: COPS FIND DRUGS AT SCHOOL CAMP
SHOOTING VICTIM POSTED WEAPONS PICS ON FACEBOOK
GREENS SNUB BURNSIDE OVER DEATH TAX PUSH
Police on Wednesday night stood by the senior constable, alleging the teen had been “restrained” after becoming verbally aggressive as the officer was sitting in a police car.
The Clarke family had been trying to pass a roadblock on the way to a vet clinic after finding their pet cat with badly burnt paws.
The Clarke family had watched in horror as TV cameras captured their home and winery bursting into flames on Saturday.
Charlie claimed he had approached the officer to ask for his name and badge number after an incident on Saturday in which the officer swore at him and Herald Sun cartoonist Mark Knight as they tried to pass a roadblock to gather supplies for evacuated residents.
“They way he spoke to me was disgusting — he told us to stop whinging about losing our home and that it wasn’t his fault,” Charlie said.
PROPERTIES LOST IN VICTORIAN BUSHFIRES
“I wanted to report him so when I saw him, I asked for his name and that’s when things got ugly. He grabbed me by the neck and drove my head into the ground.
“My mum was in complete shock and screaming and then he goes and grabs her by the neck too.”
Charlie’s sister Lucy Clarke, 16, witnessed the incident and said she had “not stopped shaking since”.
Charlie was on Wednesday night in a stable condition at Warragul Hospital.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said: “As the member stepped out of the car, the man is alleged to have pushed him to the chest.
“The man was then restrained and taken to the ground to prevent any further altercation. Police called an ambulance as a precaution after being informed the man had an unrelated injury.
“The man was released pending summons in relation to assault police.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville called for people to show “a little bit of respect” to police officers at roadblocks.
“I absolutely understand just how stressful this time is. You’ve lost your livelihood, you’ve lost your home. It is incredibly stressful. I don’t want to make any commentary around that,” she said today.
“But what I will say is that our police are there at roadblocks for a very good reason, it remains a dangerous area, we still have falling trees.
“My advice is please respect our police officers and respect their advice. They are acting in your best interests.”
Ms Neville said even in the most stressful situations, it was wrong for police officers to in any way be injured or hurt when they’re doing their job.
“I remind people they are there to assist people, they are there to help people and give them advice and I think just a little bit of respect, you know, as people go through this trauma, I think will work for everyone,” she said.