Man hospitalised after police operation at wrong Fitzroy property
Police are under investigation over an operation at a Fitzroy property that left a man undergoing serious surgery for multiple fractures to his arm following an arrest that is being treated as a case of mistaken identity.
The residents say heavily armed officers stormed the apartment attached to gay community bookshop and cafe Hares & Hyenas on Johnston Street around 2am on Saturday while searching for what residents were told was an "armed member of a 'Lebanese' gang".
A description of the incident was posted on Facebook by bookshop owners Crusader Hillis and Rowland Thomson, who say police were at the wrong property, failed to property identify themselves and caused serious injuries to another man, Nik Dimopoulos, while restraining him.
"They just stormed into a dark room shining torches and it was impossible to identify them as police. Nik Dimopoulos, thinking that it was an anti-gay home invasion, rushed out the door, downstairs and on to the street where he was forcefully detained. At no time did the police when they were chasing him say 'stop, police' as you would expect," the post said.
"[Nik] had his hands tethered behind his back way beyond what can be endured, and then they had no implement to remove them even after an ambulance had been called. Nik is now in hospital with the likelihood of losing the use of his left arm, which is broken in several places from the shoulder down."
The post said Mr Dimopoulos also received a head injury after being thrown to the pavement.
Victoria Police has confirmed a man was mistakenly arrested by specialist police officers in relation to a home invasion and carjacking in the early hours of Saturday.
In a statement released late on Saturday night, a police spokesperson confirmed a man was seriously injured by officers during an operation in Fitzroy.
"Police were tracking a stolen vehicle travelling at a fast rate of speed on Eastlink in the early hours," they said.
"The vehicle was identified as allegedly being involved in a home invasion and carjacking on 5 May.
"Police attempted to intercept the vehicle without success and it was tracked to Fitzroy."
Multiple specialist units began to search properties around Johnston Street when a male "fitting a description given to members" was seen at an address before 2.30am, police said.
Police said that a man was arrested after he left through the front door of the property.
"The male sustained serious injuries as a result of the arrest and was subsequently conveyed to hospital where he remains," the spokesperson said.
"Victoria Police acknowledge the distress this situation has caused the victim and the incident will be thoroughly investigated by Professional Standards Command.
"As the investigation is ongoing, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage".