Police make violent arrest after man allegedly punches officer in the face

Footage of police forcefully arresting a man who allegedly punched an officer has emerged.

The video shows a shirtless man being subdued on bitumen in Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

A female officer throws three punches that appear to strike the man on the side or back of his upper leg, while two more officers try to wrestle him and turn him onto his stomach.

A male officer then drops a knee onto the man’s head to pin him down. The punches and the kneeing happen within about six seconds.

Police have defended the officers’ actions, saying the man was resisting arrest and had to be capsicum sprayed before things escalated.

He has been charged with assault for allegedly punching a male police officer in the face shortly before the arrest.

The incident unfolded on Tuesday.

Police have defended the officers’ actions, saying the man was resisting arrest and had to be capsicum sprayed before things escalated.

Police were called to reports of a man punching gaming machines at a licensed premises in Airport West about 10am, a police spokesperson said in a statement.

Police allege the same man then damaged another gaming machine at a venue in Gladstone Park before fleeing on foot about 10.40am.

About 11.45am, the man police suspected had been damaging machines was seen outside the Broadmeadows Police Station.

The 37-year-old allegedly smashed the windscreen of a marked police car – Channel 9 reported he threw a rock – and the man then tried to run.

Police gave chase before the man allegedly swung and hit a male officer in the face. The policeman was treated at the scene.

The arrest was then captured on a mobile phone by a member of the public from about 40m away.

The 37-year-old Gladstone Park man is expected to appear in the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday on assault-related charges.