Police woman's head 'smashed into concrete by anti-masker'
An anti-masker who refused to comply with coronavirus rules allegedly gloated about pulling out a clump of a policewoman's hair after smashing her head into concrete.
The 26-year-old female Victoria Police officer is recovering at home after suffering a concussion in an alleged attack labelled "fundamentally disgusting" and "shameful" by Premier Daniel Andrews.She and her partner approached a 38-year-old woman who was not wearing a mask about 5pm on Monday at a Frankston shopping centre.
The shopper was asked for her name and warned about a $200 fine, police said.
Instead, she allegedly dragged the young officer to the ground before smashing her head into the concrete multiple times, ripping out some of her hair in the process.
"That's someone who thinks they're above the law," Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.
"They're not wearing a mask, they're approached and asked the reason why not and then to react like that is just completely over the top."
Victorian Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt described the woman's actions as "reprehensible" and "not human-like", alleging the woman added insult to injury amid the attack.
"The offender had a clump of our member's hair in her hands and said to our member 'what's it like to have your hair in my hands' or words to that effect," Mr Gatt told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday.
"Most in the community would hear those words and go ... hold your head in shame.
"That's a horrible way to treat first responders on the frontline of a pandemic."
The alleged offender was taken to a police station, charged with assaulting police, recklessly causing injury, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, two counts of resisting an emergency worker on duty and refusing to state her name and address.
She was also fined $200 for not wearing a mask and bailed due to no criminal history.
The woman will face court at a later date.
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The police officer suffered significant head injuries and was treated at Frankston Hospital before being released.
A photo posted to Twitter by police shows the officer sitting in a chair with her head tilted down and messy hair.
“This 26-year-old Constable returned to the station concussed and missing a clump of hair. Because she asked someone to wear a mask. She and many others are sacrificing their safety for our safety,” the caption read.
This 26-year-old Constable returned to the station concussed and missing a clump of hair.
Because she asked someone to wear a mask.
She and many others are sacrificing their safety for our safety.#protectourprotectors #springst #tpav #covid19 #covid19aus #COVID19Vic cases pic.twitter.com/Bdjve1YJWR— TPAV (@PoliceAssocVIC) August 4, 2020
Coronavirus: Police issue 161 fines
Victoria Police issued 161 fines on Monday to people flouting coronavirus restrictions, including 60 people who were not wearing masks.
There were nine fines issued at vehicle checkpoints, with 22,091 checks carried out.
Mr Patton said on at least four occasions in the past week, police had to smash car windows and pull people out because they were refusing to provide personal details in line with public health guidelines.
Other people fined on Monday include someone trying to buy a car after the 8pm curfew and another who was bored and wanted to go for a drive.
People are also being picked up by other people from different households.
Police conducted 6033 spot checks on people at homes, businesses and public places in the past 24 hours across Victoria.
‘Completely unacceptable’
Officers from the Department of Health and Human Services conducted more than 3,000 door-knocks of people who have been ordered to isolate at home.
More than 800 people were found not to be home.
“That is completely unacceptable,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday.
The revelation prompted the premier to order sick Victorians required to stay home they can no longer leave their house to exercise.
More than 500 Australian Defence Force troops are being deployed to Victoria to enforce stay-at-home orders, joined by hundreds more health officials.
Anyone caught breaching isolation orders while infected will be slapped with $5000 on-the-spot fines.
Repeat offenders dragged into court could be fined up to $20,000.
with AAP
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