Anti-masker smashes policewoman's head into concrete during violent confrontation
An anti-masker who refused to follow coronavirus rules allegedly bragged about abusing a policewoman by pulling out a clump of her hair and smashing her head into concrete.
The 26-year-old female Victoria Police officer is at home recovering after suffering a concussion in an alleged attack.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the incident was “fundamentally disgusting” and “shameful”.
The officer and her partner approached the 38-year-old woman for not wearing a mask at around 5 pm on Monday at Frankston shopping centre.
The shopper was asked for her name and was threatened with a $200 fine, according to police.
She then responded by dragging the officer to the ground and smashing her head into the concrete multiple times, ripping out her hair in the process.
"That's someone who thinks they're above the law," Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said.
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
"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."
Wayne Gatt, the Victorian Police Association secretary said the woman’s actions were “reprehensible” and “not human-like”.
"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 and 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.