Police clash with festival-goers after arresting man at Brunswick reggae event
A reggae music event was shutdown by police at the weekend, with video emerging of the intense scenes that erupted when a man was arrested. See the video.
Police & Courts
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Police shut down an inner-city music festival due to rowdy crowd behaviour, with those involved alleging their response was “heavy-handed” and “completely uncalled for”.
A daytime reggae street party at the Brunswick Music Festival came to an early end with arrests made and capsicum spray almost deployed yesterday afternoon.
Musician Marc Peckham said the tension began at the Edward St event when one man was spotted drinking a beer about 4pm, which caused police to shut down the event prematurely.
“It was a completely chilled out event, until police confiscated a beer off a guy,” Mr Peckham said.
“The man was arrested, put in handcuffs ... he was surrounded by four officers ... it was completely uncalled for.
“They started shaking the pepper spray, point blank pointing it at people.
“They were pushing people in their backs.
“It was disgraceful and completely over the top.”
Police confirmed they attended the event at the request of security and organisers following reports of people consuming alcohol at the alcohol free-event.
“The entertainment was stopped while police spoke to a number of people and confiscated alcohol before the event was allowed to proceed,” a police spokesman said.
“Police were requested to return a second time due to alcohol consumption and a decision was made in consultation with organisers to stop the event about 4.30pm.
“Some members of the crowd objected to the event being stopped and became aggressive towards police.”
A 36-year-old man was arrested after he allegedly spat at police and a member of the public.
The Preston man was charged with assault police, fail to state name and address, offensive behaviour and resist arrest.
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He was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on June 1.
The investigation remains ongoing.
About 150 people were in attendance at the dance party which was due to end at 6pm.