Footage of Hardcore Till I Die music festival arrest slammed on social media

Social media critics are up in arms over a viral video which shows cops “booting a poor guy in the head”, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

A horrified reveller has shared a dramatic video of police officers “booting a poor guy in the head” at this weekend’s Hardcore Till I Die music festival in Sydney.

The “harrowing” video has been shared hundreds of times and irate commenters and groups have used it as an example of how music festivals in New South Wales are being over-policed by heavy-handed officers.

However, the man being arrested in the clip is understood to be a festival-goer who allegedly punched a security guard in the face, spat at police officers and threw a glass bottle which struck an 18-year-old girl in the face.

Alleging he had “an entire bottle of Jim Beam and MDMA in his system”, police said the bottle was supposed to hit a security guard, but instead it hit a teenage girl from Ryde — leaving her with glass embedded in her face.

Social media critics have blasted police tactics shown in the clip. Picture: Facebook

Police allege Isoa Rabuatoka, 18, became aggressive when three officers approached him over the incidents and a struggle ensued, with officers using capsicum spray as he spat at an officer.

However, a clip uploaded shortly after the arrest at 9.30pm on Saturday from a festival-goer has provoked widespread sympathy for the reveller among the hundreds of people who have now shared and commented on it.

“Wtf though, booting the poor guy in the head, so f**ked,” the uploader wrote alongside the video.

The clip shows three officers pinning the suspect down in the middle of a packed dancefloor amid flashing lights at the “hardstyle” dance festival.

Other officers soon arrive, but one of the three pinning him down can bee seen throwing several knees into the suspect’s upper body.

Isoa Rabuatoka, 18, allegedly punched a security guard in the face before throwing a glass bottle which hit a teen in the head. Picture: Facebook

Many social media critics were left angered by the footage

“This makes me physically sick omg,” one commenter wrote.

“These d**kheads (the police) need to be taught manners,” wrote another.

Greens anti-drug dog campaigners Sniff Off shared the footage — alongside a politicised statement which accused NSW Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian of “allowing police to brutally beat” young people at music festivals.

“The NSW Police Force, backed by the Lib government, has been given free reign to abuse their powers for far too long,” the Facebook statement read.

“If you need further evidence, watch the harrowing video below of police restraining a man at (Hardcore Till I Die) HTID as they kick and knee him in the head. Is this your brilliant plan for keeping young people safe at festivals, Gladys Berejiklian? Allowing police to brutally beat them?”

Sniff Off claims also claims “multiple people were either refused entry after a strip search that found no drugs or kicked out for reasons as absurd as ‘dancing too aggressively’” at the event.

Sniff Off blamed NSW Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian for the police response. Picture: AAP Image/ Joel Carrett

News.com.au has reached out to Ms Berejiklian’s office for comment on the strong accusation.

Mr Rabuatoka has been charged with reckless wounding, common assault, assaulting police and resisting or hindering police officer in the execution of duty.

The arrest was on top of seven drug supply arrests at the music festival. A 17-year-old boy from Castle Hill was allegedly found with 579 capsules and $2075. He’s due to face a children’s court on February 20.

Another alleged supplier, aged 25, was allegedly found with 100 MDMA capsules and a knife while a South Australian woman allegedly had 48 ecstasy capsules on her.

A further 16 people are due to face court for drug possession while 30 people were ejected for intoxication.

There has been a heavy police presence at Sydney festivals this weekend.

The HTID festival was one of three Australia Day long weekend music festivals in Sydney to have extra high-level critical care medical teams and more harm reduction measures, such as roving drug educators and free electrolyte drinks.

Police arrested a further 14 people who have been charged with drug-related offences, following a police operation at the Rolling Loud music festival held at Sydney Olympic Park overnight.

“Ten people were taken to Westmead Hospital with seven of these people suspected of drug and alcohol use and the remaining three with injuries sustained at the event,” NSW Police said in a statement.

Originally published as Footage of Hardcore Till I Die music festival arrest slammed on social media