Ibac charges police officer accused of repeatedly hitting Indigenous man with Taser during Melbourne arrest

Victorian corruption watchdog alleges weapon was used to hit man’s head, with another officer accused of kneeing him in same incident last year

Two Victorian police officers have been charged with assault after allegedly using a Taser and knee to repeatedly strike a man in the head during an arrest last year.

But the officers remain on duty, police have confirmed.

In a statement, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission said it had charged the two officers after an investigation into the force used during an arrest of an Indigenous man in Melbourne’s east last August.

“During the arrest, it is alleged [a] Senior Constable unlawfully struck the man to the head with a taser multiple times,” Ibac said.

“They have been charged with aggravated assault with a weapon.

“In addition, it is alleged the Sergeant unlawfully struck the man to the head with their knee. They have been charged with unlawful assault.”

Both officers are expected to appear before the Ringwood magistrates court on 11 September.

Victoria police said in a statement that the officers were charged on Wednesday and that all further enquiries should be directed to IBAC.

“The members continue to work in their current roles,” police said.

The Ibac investigation, codenamed Operation Ginkgo, was conducted by the focused police complaints team (FPCT).

“IBAC’s FPCT assesses and investigates serious, single-incident allegations of Victoria Police misconduct against people from communities at a higher risk of experiencing police misconduct, including First Nations people,” Ibac said.

“As the matter is now before the court, no further information is available.”

Ibac says the team is responsible for an increase in the number of complaints it investigates involving police.

But data released in March showed the commission investigated just 2% of all complaints it received regarding police last year.