SA Police officer who threw man into wall cleared of excessive force
A police officer captured on video dragging a man along the ground and throwing him into a wall has learnt his fate after an internal inquiry.
An SA Police officer who threw a man against a wall and dragged him across a concrete driveway has been cleared of allegations he used excessive force during the arrest.
However, the officer was found to have used unprofessional language during the incident at a house in Davenport, near Port Augusta, on November 16 last year.
Two video clips, without audio, were posted to Facebook following the arrest and shared more than 2400 times.
The footage showed a man approaching a male officer before the officer throws the man against the wall.
In the second clip, the same officer can be seen pulling the man by an arm over a concrete driveway.
SA Police launched an internal inquiry, overseen by the Office of Public Integrity, into the incident after receiving a complaint that alleged two instances of police using excessive force and one of using unprofessional language.
As part of the internal investigation, body-worn camera footage of all officers present was reviewed “in its entirety in order to assess the full set of circumstances, in context,” police said.
The police officer was also interviewed but has since resigned from SAPOL to pursue alternative employment.
Police said the resignation was not due to the incident or inquiry.
The inquiry is ongoing and almost complete but SA Police released a statement on Friday giving an update on its findings.
“Subsequently, the two allegations of excessive force were not substantiated, however the allegation about the use of unprofessional language was substantiated,” a police spokesperson said.
“Had the police officer involved not resigned from SAPOL, it is likely they would have been subject to management resolution under the Police Complaints and Discipline Act.”
Because the incident is the subject of a complaint against police, the Police Complaints and Discipline Act would have ordinarily prohibited the disclosure of any information in relation to it however Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has authorised the release and publication of this matter as he determined it is in the public interest.
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Originally published as SA Police officer who threw man into wall cleared of excessive force
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