Australian police review arrest of Aboriginal man who was tasered

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Kris Bradshaw is seen kneeling on the ground before his arrest, as an officer stands over him with a taserImage source, Supplied
Image caption,

Kris Bradshaw was tasered after police pulled him up from a kneeling position

Australian police will review the arrest of an Indigenous man after footage showed him being repeatedly tasered by an officer in Sydney.

Kris Bradshaw, 32, was suspected over the theft of a bag when two officers cornered him near bushes on Monday.

Video of the arrest shows Mr Bradshaw on his knees before he is ordered to "get on the ground" by a male officer, who then pulls him up and tasers him.

New South Wales Police will investigate whether the actions were justified.

"I had a conversation with the commissioner and he's undertaking a review," New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian told reporters on Tuesday.

The footage, taken by an onlooker, shows the male officer approach Mr Bradshaw, shouting: "Get on the ground now. Five seconds - get on the ground now. If you move I will taser you."

The officer uses his taser while he and a female officer attempt to force Mr Bradshaw to the ground.

"What are you doing?" the man says, clutching his neck. "Are you kidding me? I'm not even fighting you."

Image source, Supplied
Image caption,

Mr Bradshaw is heard protesting as he is tasered

Mr Bradshaw faced a court on Tuesday charged with intimidating police, resisting arrest and trespassing. He is expected to apply for bail on Friday, Australian media reported.

Recent protests stemming from the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted the treatment of Indigenous people by police in Australia.

Earlier this month, New South Wales Police said it was investigating the arrest of Aboriginal boy who was tripped to the ground by an officer.

Last week, South Australia Police said it would review a video of an officer who was filmed appearing to strike an Aboriginal man during an arrest.

Indigenous people comprise almost 30% of Australians in jail but less than 3% of the national population, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

More on the treatment of Aboriginal people in Australia:

Media caption,

Donors pay debts of jailed Aboriginal women