A Bondi icon, charged over allegedly breaching coronavirus restrictions, has slammed the police, saying he has lost faith in the force after his dramatic arrest.
Dimitri Moskovich, 54, was pinned to the ground yesterday by two uniformed officers, who claim he became “quarrelsome and argumentative”.
A witness also at the eastern Sydney beach caught the arrest on camera, showing Mr Moskovich struggling with the officers as they handcuff him.
"Please guys, just stop. I'm not doing anything wrong," Mr Moskovich can be heard saying to police, while appearing to resist arrest on the grass.
"You started harassing me. You started with me about nothing.
"I'll come with you to the police station but I'm not giving you my arms."
Mr Moskovich is well known in Bondi for his intense outdoor workouts. He's been accused of walking through a fenced-off area near Ben Buckler Point and ignoring signs saying the area was closed.
The Bondi local hit back at police this morning, claiming he’d been treated like an “absolute criminal”.
"I didn't break any law, I didn't climb any fences. I didn't do anything at all. I had a swim. I had a swim on the rocks," Mr Moskovich told 9 News.
"It's not against the state Health Act to be on the rocks.
"The whole thing is ridiculous."
He claimed the first time he'd broken social distancing rules was at the police station as cops interviewed him.
"I feel bad that police can do something to an, absolutely, model citizen, law-abiding citizen. Treat me like an absolute criminal," he said.
Police say they approached Mr Moskovich about 3.30pm yesterday, but he "walked away" as they tried to speak to him.
"As police approached him again it is alleged he became quarrelsome and argumentative," police said.
"If I am not under arrest, I can walk. I believe this country is still a free country," Mr Moskovich told Nine.
He was charged with failing to comply with the terms of a notice erected by the council, and with resisting arrest.
In a Facebook post overnight, he said the charges were "ridiculous" and police had been "heavy-handed".
"Today I have lost my faith in Australian police," he said.
He called one of the officers who arrested him a "silly police poodle".
Mr Moskovich also said he had spent “five hours” in custody at Waverley police station before being charged and released.
"I have been charged with very ridiculous charges," he posted.
Bondi Beach has been closed since March 21 after large crowds failed to heed social distancing regulations.
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