Confronting footage of the arrest of an Aboriginal man being shoved into a wall by a police officer before being dragged through a front yard has been shared online, with SA police confirming a formal complaint has been made.

In two videos shared on Facebook, a man is seen speaking to officers before he is pushed into a wall, causing him to collapse.

He is then seen being dragged along a concrete path by a police officer before being arrested while being held down.

SA Police confirmed the 42-year-old man was arrested and charged with hindering and assaulting police after officers attended a home in Davenport, close to Port Augusta, on November 16.

He was bailed to appear in the Port Augusta Magistrates Court on February 6, SA Police confirmed.

SA Attorney-General and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Kyam Maher, said on Tuesday he had spoken with the Police Commissioner on the incident.

"I have been contacted by a number of Aboriginal community leaders and members over the last 24 hours concerned about the footage," Minister Maher said.

"I understand those concerns."

Mr Maher said he had been assured by the police commissioner "this will be thoroughly investigated under the Police Complaints and Discipline Act process".

Education Minister Blair Boyer said the vision was "confronting", but argued there is a strong framework in the state about how complaints against police are assessed and what action, if any, is taken.

In a statement, SA Police said they understood and acknowledged the footage shared on social media "will have a significant impact on Aboriginal peoples and communities".

"Body Worn Vision of the officers involved has been reviewed in its entirety, and police are assessing the full circumstances of this incident," SA Police said in a statement.

"A complaint has subsequently been made to police pursuant to the Police Complaints and Discipline Act.

"As this incident is the subject of a complaint, the Police Complaints and Discipline Act would ordinarily prohibit the disclosure or publication of information in connection with it.

"However, the Commissioner has determined to authorise both the disclosure and publication of the above information in relation to this complaint as it is in the public interest to do so."

The ABC reported Adelaide based lawyer, Andrew Carpenter, who has represented people who have sued police for alleged use of excessive force, said context is key.

With this video, it doesn't show what happened before or after the assault, but on the face of it, it doesn't pass the pub test," he told the ABC.

"It's an officer shoving a male who doesn't appear to be identifying as any threat, especially when there was other officers around that could have clearly de-escalated the situation."