A Wiradjuri woman has been injured after being shoved to the ground by a NSW Police officer.
Footage of the incident was posted to social media and quickly went viral.
Jaleenah Collins can be seen in the video involved in a verbal altercation with another woman when a male NSW Police officer enters the frame and forcefully pushes Ms Collins from her side. She is pushed head first into a metal bollard and collapses to the ground.
Ms Collins later posted to Facebook saying she was knocked unconscious and suffered a severe concussion, a fractured rib, and a cut to her ear that required gluing.
"Thank you to all my family who have reached out and supported me through this and who continues to do so," she wrote.
NSW Police have confirmed the incident occurred on 22 July in Bungendore, in the Monaro Police District, and that criminal charges have been laid against Ms Collins and a 15-year-old boy who was allegedly involved in an earlier disturbance.
Police allege the boy threw a rock at a woman's car, shattering her window.
According to their statement, Ms Collins is known to the boy and allegedly became involved in the altercation and "attempted to physically intervene" as the boy was arrested.
Police say Ms Collins was warned "on a number of occasions" before being arrested and charged with hindering or resisting police, and two counts of stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear or harm.
She is scheduled to appear in Queanbeyan Local Court on 11 August.
Ms Collins is being represented by barrister and solicitor Michael Lalor, who said she has been charged following the incident, but the exact nature or grounds for those charges remains unclear.
"NSW Police have elected to institute criminal charges against Ms Collins... although the exact nature of, or justification for, those charges is not known to me," Mr Lalor said.
He said Ms Collins is currently unable to comment publicly on the incident due to the ongoing criminal proceedings.
"While I believe that the public interest would certainly be served by further discussion of the events depicted in the footage, unfortunately, at this stage, defending the criminal charges being pursued against Ms Collins must be the priority," he said
"I don't think it is any exaggeration to say that the footage speaks for itself."
Mr Lalor confirmed he is acting for Ms Collins on any civil matters that may arise and that the Aboriginal Legal Service is representing her in the criminal proceedings.
NSW Police said they are reviewing the footage circulating on social media, but did not respond to questions about the level of force used, whether the officer remains on duty, or whether any formal internal investigation has commenced.
The Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) were unable to comment on the specifics of the incident due to the current legal proceedings, though they condemn police brutality in all circumstances.
Palawa woman and ALS CEO Karly Warner notes the extreme rates at which Indigenous people are subjected to excessive force by police.
"Aboriginal people are subjected to punitive police powers and excessive use of force at disproportionate rates," she said.
"There is no room in our society for violence nor abuse of power especially from those who have sworn to serve and protect us.
"There are strict laws and regulations about how NSW Police exercise their powers and for good reason... decisive action where police misconduct is proven is essential to support community trust in police and a society where we can all feel safe."
