Police attacked in wild Broome brawl

A woman was “accidentally” run over by a police vehicle as a drunken brawl involving up to 150 people erupted at a popular picnic spot in Broome last night.

Police said the woman was intoxicated and lying on the ground as a male officer tried to use the van he was driving forward as a barrier to help his colleagues.

In the process, he ran over the woman who suffered six broken ribs and a fractured wrist.

She was due to be flown by the RFDS to Royal Perth Hospital over the weekend for observation and review by a specialist.

Her injuries were not life threatening.

Kimberley District Superintendent Mick Sutherland said police were called to Town Beach about 4.20pm on Friday where 100 to 150 people were fighting.

“These people were already fighting amongst themselves,” he said.

“An officer attempted to arrest one of the males and handcuff him, when the group surrounded police and set upon officers.”

One officer was allegedly punched in the neck and head while another was punched in the face, and a rock was reportedly hurled at a sergeant.

The officers required medical attention but no significant injuries were reported.

A van for indigenous people known as the Kullari Patrol was driven between police and the crowd, allowing officers fearing for their safety to get inside and be driven away.

Two police vehicles left at the scene had their panels kicked in and most of their windows smashed.

Four people have subsequently been charged with a string of different offences. Police will also study video footage shot be members of the public on mobile phones.

Superintendent Sutherland has ordered an internal investigation into the matter.

“Enough is enough,” he said.

“Indigenous leaders and elders need to get a very important message back to their people to behave themselves before someone is killed.

“We will have to take two police vehicles off the road and replace them with two vehicles from remote communities, which will have to go without patrols.

“This is the knock-on effect. These people are the first to contact us when they are in trouble, yet they attack our officers and equipment that are needed to keep people safe.”

Superintendent Sutherland said the officer driving the van that ran over the woman was positioning the vehicle to assist with arrests when the accident happened.

He said police would continue its zero tolerance approach on street drinking in Broome.

The Broome Liquor Accord voluntarily imposed a ban on the sale of all takeaway alcohol on Friday night following the incident.