Father arrested for drunk driving, resists arrest as his children scream and cry
A father has been charged after he was caught behind the wheel almost five times over the legal limit with two children in his car - one sitting on his lap with his hands on the steering wheel.
Police allege that the man refused to stop, then resisted arrest as good samaritans stepped in to comfort his terrified children, who cried and screamed as he was held down during the arrest.
The man's charges include driving in a manner dangerous to the public, high-range drink driving, and resisting arrest.
Video recorded on Thursday afternoon shows two children watching as police officers hold their father on the ground.
The children pleaded with police to let him go, but he is put under arrest.
The witness filming fears it was a case of "police brutality."
"I don't know what mistake the man did, but his two little children, they're very upset and he was resisting restraint," the witness said.
The 45-year-old man is accused of being drunk behind the wheel.
Police officers who were on motorbikes said one of the children, a 10-year-old was on his father's lap, steering the family's VW Golf down Bourke Street in Waterloo.
An eight-year-old girl was in the back seat of the car.
The man was recorded blowing 0.248 in a breath test, according to police - five times the legal limit.
The man and his children were taken to Redfern police station, where he was charged and released.
"It's pretty horrible watching you father getting into trouble," the witness to the arrest said.
"The girl was literally screaming her head off."
Police will watch the witness video before the father appears in court.
The maximum punishment for high-range rink-driving is two years behind bars.
