Coronavirus Melbourne: Friend of woman ‘choked’ by cop is anti-mask conspiracy theorist

Pictured: Anti-masker who calls himself ‘Xodijak’ on social media

A woman who was ‘choked’ by a male cop while allegedly resisting arrest in Melbourne is mates with an anti-mask conspiracy theorist who bragged about breaching lockdown and believes the virus is a hoax.

The 21-year-old woman became involved in a violent altercation when police approached her in Collingwood on Monday because she wasn’t wearing a face mask. 

She was later charged with resisting arrest and assaulting police, but was not fined for failing to wear a mask because she had an exemption. 

The woman told 7News she gave officers the finger when they asked her why she wasn’t wearing a face covering, but claimed their response was excessive.  

Her friend, an anti-masker who goes by the name ‘Xodijak’, shared footage of the violent incident on his social media channels, which also promote a raft of bizarre and scientifically dispelled claims about the virus. 

‘I don’t care what anyone believes about the fake virus this person has no right assaulting and kidnapping somebody for not covering their face. That’s exactly what this is, armed kidnapping and assault,’ he said.

On Tuesday, Xodijak bragged about travelling 44km away from his home to ‘get some fresh air and hug some trees’ despite the state’s strict lockdown measures forbidding non-essential travel.   

‘Doing whatever we need to stay healthy. Breath work in the forest was our Sunday protest to the bullsh*t.’ 

Among his other controversial posts include several references to sexuality and gender. 'Michelle Obama is transgender,' one of the posts reads

Among his other controversial posts include several references to sexuality and gender. ‘Michelle Obama is transgender,’ one of the posts reads

'Gayness isn't real,' he wrote in another post, before elaborating by saying that he doesn't consider himself as gay

‘Gayness isn’t real,’ he wrote in another post, before elaborating by saying that he doesn’t consider himself as gay

He shared a Polaroid photograph of himself sitting on a tree to prove he went on the illegal trip. 

In another post, Xodijak questioned the legitimacy of the virus, while at the same time spouting conspiracy theories about AIDS.

‘Has anybody proved that COVID is real or not? And also what about HIV? Has anybody proved that it causes AIDS yet?’ he asked his followers, before describing the virus as ‘cringe’. 

Among his other controversial posts include several references to sexuality and gender.

‘Michelle Obama is transgender,’ one of the posts reads.

‘Gayness isn’t real,’ he wrote in another post, before elaborating by saying that he doesn’t consider himself as gay.

‘I was neither turned gay nor born gay. I have a deeply ingrained aversion to woman… Ketamine helped me dismantle this aversion for a short time to open my mind to this idea. 

On Tuesday, Xodijak bragged about travelling 44km away from his home to 'get some fresh air and hug some trees' despite the state's strict lockdown measures forbidding non-essential travel. He shared a Polaroid photograph of himself sitting on a tree to prove he went on the illegal trip

On Tuesday, Xodijak bragged about travelling 44km away from his home to ‘get some fresh air and hug some trees’ despite the state’s strict lockdown measures forbidding non-essential travel. He shared a Polaroid photograph of himself sitting on a tree to prove he went on the illegal trip

Disturbing footage shows a woman being choked by a police officer in Melbourne afte she was caught without a mask

The woman can be seen gripping his vest and he held her neck

Disturbing footage shows a woman being choked by a police officer in Melbourne afte she was caught without a mask 

Xodijak describes face masks, which are mandatory throughout Victoria, as 'face diapers' and 'the new swastika'

Xodijak describes face masks, which are mandatory throughout Victoria, as ‘face diapers’ and ‘the new swastika’

‘The gay label has been so limiting. I’m glad to be free of it.’

Xodijak describes face masks, which are mandatory throughout Victoria, as ‘face diapers’ and ‘the new swastika’.  

He also shared part of the script which was distributed among anti-masker communities which is supposed to prevent arrest during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The legitimacy of the script, and the arguments made my anti-maskers, have since been discredited.

But footage is increasingly surfacing of conspiracy theorists and so called ‘sovereign citizens’ flouting the rules. 

In the latest footage involving Xodijak’s 21-year-old friend, she was seen speaking with a male police officer without a mask. 

But the confrontation quickly turned violent when the officer appeared to place his hands around her neck, clearly visible because of his lilac latex gloves.

Her boyfriend, who was with her at the time and filmed the ordeal, blasted the arresting officers and claimed their response was excessive. 

‘The way that they came up to us all intimidating is itself enough. They’re meant to make us feel protected, right? We don’t feel protected,’ he said.

‘When they’re just looking for a fight and just looking to fine people and just looking to be bullies, that’s not lawful.’ 

Xodijak shared footage of the violent incident on his social media channels, which also include a raft of bizarre and scientifically dispelled claims about the virus

Xodijak shared footage of the violent incident on his social media channels, which also include a raft of bizarre and scientifically dispelled claims about the virus

The woman can be heard repeatedly screaming 'He's choking me' throughout the clip

The woman can be heard repeatedly screaming ‘He’s choking me’ throughout the clip

In one post, he compares the use of masks to the swastika and Nazi Germany

In one post, he compares the use of masks to the swastika and Nazi Germany

The woman (pictured) admitted she gave police the finger when asked why she wasn't wearing a mask

The woman (pictured) admitted she gave police the finger when asked why she wasn’t wearing a mask

In the first clip the pair seem to be arguing in the street when the officer grabs the woman by her arm but she resists. 

There is a struggle between the pair when the woman appears to place her hands around the officer’s vest, the officer then retaliates by placing his hands around her neck.

The woman attempts to free herself. ‘What the f***?’ she says.

‘Get the f*** off me.’ 

A man with a purple scarf was filming the incident up close. 

The female officer can be heard telling the woman to let go of thew officer’s vest in a clip filmed by another onlooker.   

The male officer keeps his grip around her neck as the woman repeatedly says ‘he’s choking me’. 

As the officer pushes her against the wall the woman removes her hands from his vest and punches him in the chest. 

The boyfriend (pictured) of a woman at the centre of a dramatic arrest in Melbourne has accused police of heavy-handedness

The boyfriend (pictured) of a woman at the centre of a dramatic arrest in Melbourne has accused police of heavy-handedness 

The video, which was captured by an onlooker in an apartment building in Melbourne, begins with the male police officer speaking to the red headed girl in baggy jeans

There is a struggle between the pair when the woman appears to place her hands around the officer's vest, the officer then retaliates by placing his hands around her neck

The video, which was captured by an onlooker in an apartment building in Melbourne, begins with the male officer speaking to the red headed girl in baggy jeans (pictured, left and right)

The officer can be seen pushing the woman against the wall as he grips her neck and head in his hands

The officer can be seen pushing the woman against the wall as he grips her neck and head in his hands

How the confrontation unfolded: 

A male police officer approaches a woman who is seen without a face mask in Melbourne

The pair argue for a moment before the officer grabs the woman by her arm

The woman resists and a struggle ensues 

The woman grabs the officers vest before the officer  places his hands around her neck

The pair continue to struggle with the woman screaming for him ‘to get the f*** off’

The officer pushes the woman against the wall as a female police officer approaches

The woman punches the male officer and kicks the female officer

Police officer pulls the woman to the ground in an attempt to arrest her 

He then sits on her and she questions what she is being arrested for

A friend then starts filming the arrest, telling the officer the woman has an exemption for wearing a mask

More police officers appear before she is arrested and charged with resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer

She then attempts to kick the female officer. 

‘F*** you,’ she yells. 

‘Get the f**k off me.’

‘What are you doing? You’re f***ing choking me. You’re f***ing choking me, dude, what the f**k.’

The male officer then pulls the girl to the ground and attempts to push her face down to arrest her. 

But the woman continues to resist, yelling ‘what have I done?’

In the next clip the male officer can be seen sitting on top of the woman as he waits for back up to arrive.  

The woman can be seen struggling, with her feet flapping against the footpath. 

The man in the purple scarf, believed to be her boyfriend, then yells for the officer to get off her, saying she has an excuse for not wearing a mask. 

‘She went to the doctor yesterday. Look what you’re causing. You’re f***ing hypocrites,’ he said.

‘There’s a man on a girl and you choked her. 

‘For what? For a mask? For not having a mask? Look how pathetic you are! Are you serious? Just for not having a mask?’ 

‘Go f**k yourself,’ the woman says again.

‘Go f**k yourself officer. Why am I under arrest? Assault? I did not assault you, you grabbed me.’ 

In another clip, five officers can be seen surrounding the woman who is now laying face down on the footpath with the officer still on top of her. 

Victoria Police said the woman was arrested after ‘she refused to provide identification for breaching the Chief Health Officer’s directions’.

‘Police made the decision to arrest the woman after she failed to provide her name and address.

‘She then became physically aggressive and kicked a female officer to the upper body.

‘The woman continued to resist arrest and had to be taken to ground before being arrested.’

She was charged with resisting and assaulting police. She was bailed to appear at court at a later date and the arrest has been referred to Professional Standards Command for oversight.

The woman was not issued a fine for failing to wear a mask as she has a medical exemption.  

A man with a purple scarf then appears. He can be seen filming the incident from the footpath as another police officer shows up

The female officer appears to try to speak to the woman as the male officer keeps his grip around her neck

A female officer appears to try to speak to the woman as the male officer keeps his grip around her neck (pictured, left and right)

The man in the purple scarf then yells for the officer to get off her, saying she has an excuse for not wearing a mask. 'She went to the doctor yesterday,' he says

The man in the purple scarf then yells for the officer to get off her, saying she has an excuse for not wearing a mask. ‘She went to the doctor yesterday,’ he says

In another clip five officers can be seen surrounding the woman who is now laying face down on the footpath with the officer still on top of her (pictured)

In another clip five officers can be seen surrounding the woman who is now laying face down on the footpath with the officer still on top of her (pictured)

WHAT MELBOURNE’S STAGE FOUR LOCKDOWN MEANS FOR YOU

State of disaster: Increased police powers to enforce the lockdown. Cautions will no longer be issued, only $1,652 fines or court summons

Curfew: No one allowed outside 8pm to 5am except for work, medical, caregiving – no shopping or exercising

Distance limit: Shopping and exercise can only be done 5km from home 

Exercise: All recreational activity is banned and you can only exercise, with one other person, for one hour a day

Partners: You can visit a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn’t live with you, even if they live more than 5km away 

Shopping: Only one person can go shopping per household per day

Cafes and restaurants stay open for takeaway, as do supermarkets, etc

Schools: All students learning from home from Wednesday unless they are vulnerable or parents are essential workers. Kindy and childcare close on Thursday (same exceptions apply)

Funerals: No change to funeral limits, but only 10 mourners can leave Melbourne to regional Victoria for one

Weddings: Completely banned

Public transport: Slashed after 8pm and cancelled late at night 

Community sport: All community sport across Victoria is now banned. Only exercise is allowed within the permitted public gathering limits of two people.

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