Dramatic arrest under review after teen ‘went purple’ while in police officer’s chokehold

Chilling screams were heard as a teenager was taken down in a dramatic arrest that is now under review.

Confronting footage has shown the moment a teenager suffered a seizure during a dramatic arrest that has seen officers accused of being too heavy handed in their approach.

The 19-year-old was shown being brought to the ground by an officer who had him in a chokehold then laid across his body, pressing his face against the ground.

The teenager’s young family, including his 19-month-old baby, had been dining inside the Dandenong Plaza, in Melbourne’s southeast, when plain-clothed officers took him down at about 11am on Tuesday.

Footage shows an officer arresting a teenager before he was taken to hospital. Picture: 7NEWS

Distressed screaming could be heard in footage obtained by 7NEWS, with a woman’s voice yelling, “he’s having a fit” and “he’s purple”.

The teenager was taken to hospital where he remains, reportedly being treated for head injuries.

“Our son was sitting on his lap and they’ve just come up like that and started choking him,” the man’s partner, Amy Graham, said, according to the publication.

“He went purple … I actually thought he was dead, honestly.”

Her friend said they initially believed the officer that took him down was a “random attacker” and alleged that he started laughing when they asked to call an ambulance.

The officer has been accused of using too much force to take the teenager down. Picture: 7NEWS

In the footage, the officer could be heard denying the teenage man, who was arrested in connection to a series of alleged car thefts across Melbourne, was having a seizure.

“He’s not having a fit,” he said.

The matter has been referred to the Professional Standards Command for review.

Victoria Police confirmed the 19-year-old had been charged following his arrest by Fawkner Police on Tuesday in relation to a number of ongoing investigations.

He has been charged with 12 offences and was expected to front Broadmeadows Magistrates’ court on Wednesday in relation to trespass and attempted theft of motor vehicle in Balwyn North on July 2 and burglary, trespass and theft in Reservoir on October 17.

He would also face a charge of theft of motor vehicle, trespass and theft in Malvern on October 17 and theft on October 29 in Prahran

Further charges were expected in relation to a number of other alleged burglaries and thefts across Melbourne.

Victoria Police said the teenager was taken to hospital under police guard but denied that he was admitted to be treated for injuries, as opposed to what was claimed by his partner.