Indigenous woman says WA officer pushed her during nephew's arrest in Karratha
Beverly Hubert claims a Western Australian police officer shoved her while she tried to confront officers arresting her nephew, contradicting police statements that she simply fell.
On a Tuesday morning in Karratha, police moved to arrest Beverly Hubert's nephew at a residence on Pegs Creek. When relatives protested the nephew's nosebleed and pain, Hubert approached the officers and says one officer bent both elbows and shoved her, causing her to fall backward, as captured on a phone video. Police described the incident as a 63-year-old woman who fell and refused St John Ambulance assistance, later summoning her for assaulting a public officer.
Hubert disputes the “fall” description, insisting the footage proves she was pushed, and notes she was unaware of the summons. Two other women present have been charged with obstructing and assaulting officers; one was taken to Karratha Health Campus for chest pains before release. While police have not confirmed an internal investigation, community members anticipate a review, and local advocate Michael Rickard criticized the force used. The incident follows a recent, similarly filmed police encounter in Karratha that also drew community concern.
