Waikato father alleges police punched him during Hamilton arrest, police taking ‘closer look’
A Hamilton man has alleged that police used excessive force, including punching him in the head, during an arrest outside a nightclub. The incident was captured on video, and the police have confirmed they are reviewing the circumstances following a formal complaint.
Why it matters
The case highlights ongoing public concerns regarding police accountability and the use of force during routine arrests.
A Waikato father says he felt “defenceless” when he was allegedly punched in the head during an arrest captured on video.
Hamilton man Panapa, who asked not to have his surname published, was arrested last Saturday night after arriving at Home on Hood St nightclub.
He said he was sober driving for his partner and her friends.
“The police told us to get out of the vehicle but they didn’t give me any space to actually step out and comply as I was trying to,” he said.
Footage uploaded to Facebook by Panapa’s mother, Emere, shows a car parked in a narrow alley just off a strip of shops, surrounded by several officers and a group of young people on a night out.
An officer approaches the driver’s door and tells the 26-year-old to get out, which he appears to do before he is restrained.
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