It has been recently reported that an Ipswich man was assaulted by police in late 2023 whilst attempting to fill his car at a service station, resulting in his arm being broken.
Changamire Chipangamazano was at a service station and was moving his car to the relevant bowser when he was approached and arrested by police for allegedly not wearing a seatbelt. During the course of placing him under arrest, for a traffic offence that carries a maximum penalty of a fine, his arm was broken by police.
Pursuant to the Queensland Road Rules, the penalty for failing to wear a seatbelt is a fine of $1,209.
Concerning incidents such as these erode public faith in the police and raise many questions, such as:
- Why does allegedly not wearing a seatbelt warrant questioning?;
- Why would police consider arresting someone for not wearing a seatbelt?;
- Why are police so quick to even consider arresting or detaining a person in these circumstances?;
- Why are techniques used by police that have the tendency to break people’s arms?
On top of having his arm broken, Mr Chipangamazno was then charged with obstructing police and forced to attend court.
That charge was later discontinued.
This matter bears a striking resemblance to an experience of one of our clients at Jones + Associates, who was also charged with obstructing police after having his arm broken by police.
In that case, police refused to discontinue the offence and our client was forced to contest the matter at trial, which he subsequently won as a result of the magistrate finding the police had no lawful reason to attempt to arrest our client. Costs were ordered against the Queensland Police Service, at the conclusion of the matter.
Issues such as excessive police force as well as the practice of charging persons as a means of justifying police actions, are not uncommon.
Should you or anyone close to you experience excessive force by police or feel harshly treated by authorities, you should contact us at (07) 3229 3166.