Highly distressing footage of the arrest has become headline news across the globe in recent days, as the elderly man’s son, Joseph Merlino, claims that his father was exercising and was not required to be wearing a mask at the time.
Mr Merlino also claims that his father is medically exempt from wearing a mask due to heart problems and that he struggles to breathe at times.
“He did not do anything illegal,” Mr Merlino shared in the caption of his father’s arrest video.
“He did not retaliate in a violent manner. He was conducting himself in a peaceful manner. Not looking for trouble,” he wrote.
Footage of the incident was filmed by the elderly man’s partner and shows the man talking with four police officers before being handcuffed and led out of the park.
Police claimed to handcuff the elderly man because he refused to answer their questions “reasonably”, despite his partner being overheard trying to inform the police of the man’s current health conditions and alleged medical exemption.
“Do you believe me now you piece of s**t?” yelled the elderly man’s horrified partner.
Police then turned the man onto his side and explained that they cannot legally administer his medication before his partner took over.
A police officer in the video can be heard explaining that an ambulance had been called while the man continued to experience the medical episode on the floor.
Despite the apparent severity of the unfolding incident, it appears as though police may have suspected the elderly gentleman’s episode was nothing more than theatrics.
Queensland Police responded to the incident and said the man “appeared to collapse” however, “no medical issue” has yet been identified.
The man was then transported to the hospital as a precaution.
When did this country become a communist country. Police can now deem whether or not a person has a medical condition. What has happened to accepting a person’s explanation, there is no need for the heavy handed way that the government has enforced this tactic onto the public. Shame shame shame. They state that everyone has the right to refuse but unfortunately that is not the case. Blackmail is the word that if you don’t you may not have a job, you can’t travel, you won’t be able to go to restaurants, gyms, clubs,pubs so on and so on What has the human race turned into