Investigation into former Barkly Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin’s citizen arrest ‘finalised’ by police

No charges have been laid by police against a former Mayor who performed a controversial citizen’s arrest in the Territory – the culmination of a more than year long police investigation.

A year-long police investigation into a controversial citizens arrest – where an Indigenous boy was pinned down by a then-Territory Mayor – has ended with no charges being laid against the man who performed the act.

A Northern Territory Police spokesperson confirmed no criminal prosecution will occur against former Barkly Regional Council Mayor Jeffrey McLaughlin, with the investigation into his citizens arrest “finalised”.

Speaking on the investigation, Mr McLaughlin, who now lives in Queensland, said he’s “glad it’s over”.

Former Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin. Picture: Supplied

Mr McLaughlin performed the citizens arrest in Tennant Creek in August last year.

A video leaked two months after the incident – which is 20 minutes long – shows Mr McLaughlin restraining a 12-year-old boy while another man, Graeme Kirk, places his boot on the boy’s head and makes threats to kill the child.

Mr Kirk pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and received a three month suspended sentence for his actions.

Graeme Kirk places his boot on the boy’s head during the citizens arrests while Jeff McLaughlin sits on the child.

In the wake of the video, protests erupted in Tennant Creek, with calls made for Mr McLaughlin to be sacked from his Mayoral role.

Mr McLaughlin stood his ground, but was suspended months later by then Local Government Minister Chansey Paech, who ordered an investigation into the council’s conduct.

When the investigation was completed in June this year, the entire Barkly Regional Council was dismissed.

The investigation was headed by Ruth Morley, who investigated the council from January 2022 to October 2023.

Deputy Chief Minister Chansey Paech announces as Barkly Regional Council have been officially dismissed. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Ms Morley’s report on the investigation uncovered elected members did not understand their roles, did not correctly manage conflicts of interest, and failed to seek information before making crucial decisions.

The Morley report accused Mr McLaughlin and then-BRC chief executive Emma Bradbury of acting with a conflict of interest.

Ms Bradbury has previously denied any wrongdoing.

Speaking with this masthead, Mr McLaughlin denied any wrongdoing and said Ms Morley’s investigation was part of a broader push to have him removed from power.

He said the attempts to have him removed also included his marijuana charges, which are unrelated to the citizens arrest.

Mr McLaughlin has previously pleaded not guilty to his drug charges and will return to Alice Springs Local Court on November 26.

His drugs charges stem from him allegedly driving under the influence of the drug in February 2023.

Former Barkly Regional Council mayor Jeff McLaughlin (left) with Barkly MLA Steve Edgington (right). Picture: Facebook

He was charged with driving under the influence of a drug, possessing a schedule two drug in a less than trafficable quantity, supplying a schedule two drug in less than a commercial quantity, cultivating less than a trafficable quantity of a prohibited plant, and driving with a prohibited drug in the body.

Section 441(2) of the NT Criminal Code states a person, who is not a member of the police force, can arrest a person if they find “the offender committing an offence” or the person “believes on reasonable grounds that the offender has committed an offence and that the arrest of the offender is necessary”.