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Outrage over Victoria Police officer filmed stomping man's head

The arrest of a man in Melbourne will be subject to an investigation after video emerged online appearing to show a police officer stamping on his head whilst being restrained on the ground.

Police were called to Cooper Street in the northern suburb of Epping shortly after 4pm on Sunday after reports of a man behaving erratically, Victoria Police said.

Video circulating on social media from a passing car shows six officers surrounding the man who is on the ground of the median strip as sirens ring out.

A man in Melbourne is seen here being restrained by six Victoria Police officers when one appears to stomp on his head.
The man is restrained by six officers, including one who appeared to stomp on his head. Source: Twitter

As the man tries to stand up, one officer appears to strike the man on the right side of his head with his foot.

Another officer then appears to strike him in the head with a knee as the man is restrained.

“Are you f***ing kidding me?” a man inside a passing car says as an officer shouts at the man to get on the ground.

Victoria Police confirmed in a statement to Yahoo News Australia the arrest would be investigated by the Professional Standards Command.

“Upon arrival the male allegedly became aggressive and damaged a police vehicle while attempting to avoid arrest,” a spokesperson said.

During the incident, a police officer was assaulted and capsicum spray was deployed, the spokesperson said.

The 32-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested and subsequently taken to hospital for assessment.

The spokesperson described the arrest as a “highly dynamic incident”.

The arrest has been widely criticised online after garnering thousands of views.

“Absolutely disgusting behaviour,” one person wrote on Twitter.

Another labelled it “over the top”.

The arrest was not related to a breach of coronavirus restrictions, the spokesperson said.

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