NT police officer denies allegations she pushed a civilian in a roadside arrest while off duty

A high-ranking Northern Territory police officer has refuted allegations she pushed a woman during a roadside arrest while she was off duty in June last year.

Virginia Read – who has been a police officer since 1986 — faced Darwin Local Court on Friday charged with aggravated assault over the alleged incident.

She said she barely touched the woman after she pulled her over for speeding and dangerous driving.

However, crown prosecutor Camille McKay argued that in a video of the altercation, recorded on a phone by the complainant Sky Anderson, the superintendent can be seen “grabbing” her in the reflection of sunglasses.

Ms Read was driving on the Stuart Highway from Katherine to Darwin in a police recruit car in June, 2022, and also giving her friend’s son a lift, when the incident happened.

At the time, she was recovering from a shoulder injury and was on non-operational orders.

In an interview played to the court with investigating police officers, recorded just a few weeks after the incident, Ms Read said she’d set her cruise control to 130kph — the speed limit on many NT highways — when she saw a white Ute with dog trays and New South Wales number plates driving ahead at a “concerning” speed.

She said she turned her lights and sirens on to make the driver stop.

Ms Read said she eventually managed to stop the driver, Sky Anderson, whom she described as a young “scruffy” looking woman who was “antagonistic” from the moment she got out of her car.

The court heard Ms Anderson produced a paper licence but refused to provide her address when asked by Ms Read, who was wearing a Maroons rugby jersey and sunglasses.

The encounter was captured on video by Ms Anderson.

While the court on Friday wasn’t privy to the video’s images, the lengthy and heated altercation could be heard clearly.

“I didn’t know it was a police car, I had music playing, you had two little lights [flashing] how was I supposed to see that?” Ms Anderson can be heard yelling.

Ms Read can be heard repeatedly asking Ms Anderson for her address.

And after it’s provided, Ms Read can be heard swearing at Ms Anderson saying “I don’t give a f**k” before being interrupted.

The court heard Ms Read attempted to arrest Ms Anderson for failing to provide her details, and had reached into the car to take her keys.

Ms Read said she then put her hand on Ms Anderson’s elbow to arrest her, “and she threw her hands up”.

“I don’t even think I managed to put my hand on her arm … I know that was my intention … but I don’t think it even happened,” she said.

Earlier, Triston Stonhill, who witnessed the incident from the passenger seat of Ms Read’s police car said he could not hear the altercation, but could “very clearly” see that there was no assault.

However, the prosecution quickly cast doubt on this claim arguing Mr Stonhill’s interpretation of the incident had been “coloured” by hearing Ms Read’s version of events.

In her closing submissions, crown prosecution lawyer Ms McKay argued Ms Read was not complying with police general orders, nor operating under the execution of police duties when she pulled the driver over and attempted to arrest her.

She said Ms Read was not clear about the reasons for the arrest and argued the incident was an “abuse of power”.

“The victim said she felt harassed and started recording because she didn’t think anyone would believe her,” Ms McKay said.

Judge John Neill said the video did not support allegations of a two-handed push, but told the prosecution there was room to convince him there had been an assault.

“I’m absolutely unconvinced on the evidence before me [that] there was a two-handed push … and I have to be persuaded beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

The matter has been adjourned until next week, when Ms Read’s lawyer will make his final submissions.