Facebook Live captures police officer assault

CAIRNS ESPLANADE

Last updated: 28/06/2017, 08:30:00 (AEST)

Onlooker Jonathan WM O’Connor captures an alleged assault of a police officer on Facebook Live (WATCH IT BELOW).

THREE men have been charged after a police officer was seriously assaulted on the Cairns Esplanade last night.

The incident was captured on Facebook Live by a nearby onlooker Jonathan WM O’Connor. The video has been viewed more than 30,000 times.

CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO

A 28-year-old male constable was allegedly approached by a group of men at 7pm, who had been moved on following a disturbance at a licensed premise on the Esplanade.

The officer was then surrounded by the group who allegedly began to assault him, causing him to fall to the ground. The men allegedly continued to assault the officer, knocking him unconscious. His partner then deployed OC spray and the men fled the scene.

The group were taken into custody by police a short time later on Abbott Street.

The injured constable was transported to Cairns Base Hospital with multiple abrasions in a stable condition and will undergo further scans today.

A 20-year-old Edge Hill man has been charged with serious assault police, serious assault police causing bodily harm, two counts of assault police and wilful damage of police property.

He is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today (June 28).

A 21-year-old Brinsmead man has been charged with serious assault police causing bodily harm and wilful damage of police property and is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today.

A 22-year-old Brinsmead man has also been charged with serious assault police causing bodily harm and wilful damage of police property and is due to appear in Cairns Magistrates Court today.
Investigations are continuing.