Police accuse ABC journalist of being ‘off his chops’
The reporter says he simply has a cold. Photo: Twitter
An ABC journalist detained by police and accused of being “off his chops” on drugs says his run-in with officers was all a “strange misunderstanding”.
Brisbane police reporter Josh Bavas, who claimed he simply had a cold, recorded mobile phone footage of the incident at a Bunnings store in Oxley, in Brisbane’s southwest, on Saturday.
“For the record, it’s all water under the bridge. Police have a job to do. Won’t be following this any further. A strange misunderstanding,” he later tweeted, after the video attracted media attention.
It also caught the eye of Ipswich Deputy Mayor Paul Tully, who tweeted on Sunday: “What the betting (sic) nothing happens over (the) incident and that it’s quietly swept under the carpet?”
NITV reporter Myles Morgan, who previously clashed with officers himself at an Anzac Day protest in Canberra, also responded to the Queensland footage, tweeting there were “two sides” to every story but noting an “unprofessional, intimidating side”.
The ABC reporter, who appears to have now deleted the original tweet, had claimed he was stopped because he was waiting in the car park near a vehicle containing a group of people who were of Aboriginal appearance.
Bavas, who denies being under the influence of a dangerous drug, said that while sitting behind the car he was approached by an officer who identified himself as Senior Constable Richard Power.
“Mate, the fact that you’ve got pinpoint eyes and you’re looking directly into the sun and they’re not dilating due to the sunlight, I believe you to be under the influence of a dangerous drug,” the officer says.
“For the moment, I’m going to detain you for the purpose of…”
“You’re going to detain me?” Bavas replied.
Senior Constable Power: “Yes, for the purpose of a search. Do you have any identification on you sir?”
Bavas: “It’s in the car.”
Senior Constable Power: “Yeah exactly, so you were saying you weren’t detained.”
Senior Constable Power then calls out to a second officer: “Mate, Reedy, he’s off his chops on something so I’ve detained…”
Bavas: “I’m not off my chops.”
The second officer replies: “If we hadn’t hung on to you mate you’d float off into f***ing outer space.”
Senior Constable Power then warned the other officer that he, too, had begun recording the conversation on his body cam, to which the officer replied: “Oh, sorry”.
A Queensland Police Service (QPS) spokesman said they were aware of the footage on Saturday.
“In keeping with our commitment to high standards of behaviour, transparency and accountability, senior officers have reviewed the footage and are examining the behaviour of the police involved,” they said in a statement.
“The man was not in possession of dangerous drugs and was released without further action taken.”
The QPS Standard of Practice calls for officers to “treat everyone fairly and with respect”.
Members are also urged to act with integrity and model professional behaviour.
