A man named Ian who was shoved by a police officer has spoken candidly about his new living arrangement after a clip spread nationwide last month.
The video showed a male cop approaching a homeless man outside Penrith Mall Medical Centre in Sydney’s west on June 23 and getting in his face before allegedly pushing him and saying “f**king go bro”.
A female officer on the scene then tells the homeless man to collect his things and leave.
As the man tries walking off, the male officer stops him again and pushes his trolley of belongings out of the way and asks for his name.
The clip was recorded by witness Glen Fisher, who claimed the homeless man had simply been ordering a coffee when he was stopped by officers, who “triggered” him by asking, “Why are you looking so guilty?”
Mr Fisher, himself a former rough sleeper, said the situation “escalated” from there, with the male cop acting as the “aggressor”, while the homeless man appeared to have “mental health problems”.
Almost one month later, Mr Fisher found Ian back on High Street and confirmed he was safe.
“I’m getting there. I’m recovering,” Ian said.
Asked where he was staying, Ian revealed he was no longer sleeping rough and had secured “temporary accommodation”.
Ian also said he was suffering from PTSD and an acquired brain injury following brain cancer removal.
Mr Fisher said he would help connect Ian with people who had offered support after seeing the original footage.
“I’ve had a few people reach out and say they want to do some stuff for Ian, so now that I know where Ian is, if you want to do that, speak to me and we’ll sort that out,” he said.
NSW Police said officers had been attending an unrelated matter when they saw a 47-year-old man allegedly behaving aggressively towards members of the public. Police said a business owner asked the man to leave.
“The 47-year-old man was issued a move-on direction, which police allege he initially failed to comply with,” a spokesperson said.
“Following a further interaction with police, the man complied with the move-on direction and no further police action was taken.”
Police said body-worn footage had been reviewed and allegations concerning the officers’ conduct had been referred to the relevant command.
The original video prompted Liberal MP and federal member for Lindsay Melissa McIntosh to seek a formal review of the incident.
“Many people have raised their concerns with me,” she said, adding that she had contacted the Nepean Police Area Commander, NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley and state Penrith MP Karen McKeown.
The Police Association of NSW later accused Ms McIntosh of using an incomplete video to engage in political “grandstanding”.
Association president Kevin Morton said the footage did not show a young homeless family who had allegedly been frightened by Ian before officers intervened.
“What’s not seen in the social media clip is the young homeless family that were terrified and thanked the officers,” he said.
“These fine officers then from their own money bought the family a meal.”
Ms McIntosh rejected the criticism and said she was responding to concerns raised by her constituents.
“A politician doing their job is now grandstanding,” she said.