A fifth person has been charged over a sickening brawl which saw a police officer’s head slammed onto the concrete.
Mother Kayla Potts, 25, her fiancé Jack Houldcroft, 27, Potts’ brother Trent, 26, and her friend Phillip O’Donnell, 38, were all arrested after the fight with two officers in St Kilda, Melbourne about 3am on Sunday.
A 26-year-old St Kilda man was arrested for his alleged involvement in the brawl on Monday afternoon. Police were unable to confirm if he was the man seen allegedly spitting on one of the officers as he lay injured on the ground.
Senior police described the shocking group attack as ‘animalistic’ and ‘barbaric’ and the state premier slammed the footage as ‘disgusting’.
The group has been charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer, affray, violent disorder, and other assault charges. If convicted, all parties face a mandatory six months in jail for assaulting an emergency worker.
Arrested and charged: Kayla Potts (left) 25, and fiancé Jack Houldcroft, 27, (right) were allegedly involved in a brawl with two friends and two police officers in St Kilda, Melbourne early on Sunday morning
Kayla’s brother Trent Potts (left) 26, and friend Phillip O’Donnell (right) 38, were also arrested. The four friends were celebrating a 30th birthday party when they allegedly got into an argument upon leaving the venue
Kayla Potts – a childcare worker – was released on bail from the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday.
She was seen leaving the court shielding her face.
The Melbourne Magistrates Court heard that Potts, her brother Trent, Houldcroft and O’Donnell had been attending a 30th birthday party in St Kilda when they allegedly got into an argument upon leaving the venue.
A transgender woman intervened in the alleged dispute but Trent Potts allegedly kicked the Good Samaritan in the testicles.
Police were called and arrived on the scene just as the group were about to board a taxi.
At that point, Mr Potts allegedly fled on foot and a police chase ensued.
Senior Constable Darren Shepherd, however, tripped on the gutter while Senior Constable Adam McKenzie caught up with Potts.
Potts allegedly tried to fight the cop before his sister showed up and lunged herself at him.
A court heard Kayla Potts allegedly attacked an officer after her brother Trent tried to fight one. The officer then allegedly bashed her with a torch, splitting her head open
Video footage captured the four friends in a brawl that saw a police officer’s head slammed onto the concrete
Sickening footage showed a man repeatedly slamming a police officer’s head into the ground
The officer is said have allegedly bashed her with a torch, splitting her head open.
She then unleashed a tirade against the officer, swearing at him repeatedly.
Video footage shows O’Donnell and Houldcroft stepped in, beating the officers.
O’Donnell is accused of tackling Shepherd from behind, slamming his head repeatedly into the pavement.
Houldcroft punched and kicked McKenzie as he lay on the ground.
Shepherd was admitted to the hospital with a ruptured bicep and required surgery.
The other officer suffered cuts and bruises to his face as well as a fractured cheekbone, a detective told the court.
Police will allege O’Donnell smashed the officer’s head into the concrete during the fracas. He is expected to seek bail on Tuesday, The Australian reported.
Officers are seeking one man who was seen spitting on an injured officer and two women involved in the brawl.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the violence was a ‘disgusting incident’ and that police should use the ‘full force’ of the law.
‘We’ve got no time for this, no tolerance for it, and I’m confident Victoria Police will be doing the work necessary to see those people face the full force of new laws that I’m very proud to have written,’ he said.
Kayla Potts – a childcare worker – was released on bail from the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. She was seen leaving the court shielding her face
Victoria Police deputy commissioner Shane Patton said the attack was ‘disgusting and unprovoked’.
‘The outrage – I can’t explain the outrage that I felt when I saw the footage yesterday that all members of executive command saw, and how we felt,’ he said.
‘That type of attack, that type of barbaric behaviour, just cannot be tolerated.’
Mr Patton said police were searching for three other people involved in the incident.
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.