SA Police officer filmed punching Aboriginal man Noel Henry during arrest in Kilburn

Video has emerged of an indigenous man being punched while pinned to the ground by cops in Adelaide | WATCH

The young man is arrested by police in screengrabs from a video filmed by a bystander. Pictures: Supplied

Confronting video has emerged of an indigenous Adelaide man being punched twice by a South Australian policeman while pinned to the ground by two other officers on Monday night, with SAPOL ordering an urgent investigation into whether excessive force was used.

The incident risks inflaming tensions between SA Police and the indigenous community, with SAPOL saying the man was suspected of carrying illicit drugs but his supporters claiming he was only pulled over for riding his bike at night without lights and a helmet.

The incident began in the low-income Adelaide suburb of Kilburn around 8.30pm Monday when what police described as “an alleged high risk domestic violence matter” quickly escalated into a heated public confrontation, with officers forced to call for back up and use pepper spray to control an angry crowd.

The man who was punched, 28-year-old Noel Henry, was arrested in Kilburn at 9.30pm Monday and held overnight but released without charges Tuesday morning, with SA Police now under pressure to explain the circumstances leading up to his arrest.

In chaotic scenes captured on video by Mr Henry’s neighbour Emma Perteira, several police had pinned Mr Henry to the ground while other officers stood by trying to control the angry crowd of bystanders who had gathered in the area.

The video shows more than 10 officers, three of them holding Mr Henry down, one of them landing two blows on Mr Henry while he is pinned on the ground.

That same officer also appears to shout at Mr Henry before hitting him, yelling “get on the f***ing ground” as he tries to keep him immobile.

The friends of Mr Henry are shouting “let his head up” and “get off his head” while he is pinned down by police.

The bystanders erupt when they see the officer hit Mr Henry, shouting “we’re filming!” and pointing their mobile phones at the scuffle, with some officers holding their hands up as if to block their line of vision.

In a statement issued Tuesday, SAPOL said the attempted search of Mr Henry on suspicion of carrying drugs started peacefully.

“He was asked to place his hands on his head while a search of his person was undertaken,” the statement said.

“The man originally was compliant and after a short time he began to refuse. Police attempted to arrest the man who resisted and a struggle ensued.

“Police and the man went to the ground as police attempted to restrain and handcuff him.”

SAPOL said they were aware of the existence of the video on social media and confirmed that it showed an officer striking Mr Henry.

Noel Henry’s social worker, indigenous activist Latoya Rule, says he has been left with multiple injuries. Picture: Mike Burton

“There is video footage of the incident that has been published on social media. The video shows a rear view of a police officer appearing to strike the man on the ground,” the statement reads.

Mr Henry’s social worker, indigenous activist Latoya Rule, had arranged to meet Mr Henry outside Port Adelaide Police Station Tuesday morning but says police snuck him out the back door without arranging for him to have any medical treatment.

“You won’t see the cuts on his face, arms, legs, you won’t see the state he was in,” she said.

“He did not receive any medical care or assistance or any visitation by any community worker.” He has sustained some injuries to his head, to his arms and his legs.”

SAPOL confirmed that both Mr Henry and one police officer sustained minor injuries in the incident.

The internal investigation may be hindered by the fact that the parts of the officer’s body camera were grabbed during the scuffle and have not been found since.