'Raptor 13' cop wields metal pole during traffic stop days after confrontation with bike rider
A Sydney police officer, who calls himself "Raptor 13", is back in the spotlight for the fourth time in a month after footage of him holding a tyre iron near a young driver’s head emerged.
The officer has been slammed on social media for his treatment of motorists including footage of a mother being "pushed" by the officer and another of him dropping the motorcyclist's drivers licence at his feet.
The driver, known only as Jimmy, was pulled over in Canley Heights, in south western Sydney, before the officer, Senior Constable Murphy was filmed holding the wheel-changing tool to his head.
According to the Daily Mail the footage shows an incident when Senior Constable Murphy pulled Jimmy and his friend, Rami, over and requested to search his Nissan 200SX on Boxing Day 2015.
Unlike recent encounters that have surfaced online, Senior Constable Murphy did share his real name on this occasion.
“I don't have a badge number. Senior Constable Murphy, Strike Force Raptor,” he said in response to questions about his name and badge number.
After pointing out various alleged defects on the Nissan, Senior Constable Murphy can be seen questioning why he had the metal tool in his car before allegedly showing him how it could be used as a weapon, by holding the pole to Jimmy’s head.
“He placed it against my head... the way he approached me went a bit too far. I did not expect him to put it right next to me and tell me that it was a weapon, I thought that wasn't correct,” Jimmy told the Daily Mail.
“I had no intention to use it as a weapon. He was trying to make me look like a criminal. He said he was demonstrating how it could be used as a weapon.”
Both Jimmy and Rami were slapped with $1200 worth of fines, which were later reduced on appeal.
Footage from various Sydney drivers has emerged in recent days of their own encounters with Senior Constable Murphy.
On Monday, a mother shared the moment she was “pushed” by the police officer in front of her teenage son, leaving her “scared and crying and shaking”.
Days earlier, a heated roadside encounter with father-of-two, Gurakn Topal, emerged after Senior Constable Murphy pulled him over for issues with his motorcycle and helmet.
When asked for his name and badge number, the police officer responded “Raptor 13” six times, before allegedly dropping the motorcyclists drivers licence at his feet.
“I need to know your name, by law, I want to know,” Mr Topal can be heard asking Senior
“I’ve got you on camera, I’ll end up finding out who you are."
Meanwhile on January 11, Zia Yilda was pulled over for allegedly speeding while on his way to work.
Senior Constable Murphy can be seen refusing to show the 24-year-old driver the speed gun after claiming he was driving at 83km/h.
New South Wales Police have declined to comment on any of the incidents to date.
