Moment riot police smash shield into man's face, knocking his teeth out during Epping migrant hotel clash after resident was charged with schoolgirl sex attack
Footage of the encounter shows the man in a grey vest square up to an officer before he is hit with full force.
The injured man then looks down at his hand in disbelief as he clasps his teeth and shows them eagerly to fellow protesters including a lady with the Flag of St. George draped over her shoulders.
Hundreds of furious locals gathered outside the Bell Hotel on Thursday after a resident was charged with a sex attack on a schoolgirl.
Ethiopian asylum seeker Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, where he denied a number of offences.
In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'.
He claimed: 'I was trying to talk to him (the riot officer) and he smashed me in the face with his shield.'
The protester can then be seen reaching into his pocket before he presents what resembles a yellow luminescent highlighter, a bottle top, and two teeth.
Other footage shows the man furiously shouting at the riot police after his teeth have been knocked out as the man filming comments 'he's fuming mate'.
At the protest residents stood side-by-side to call for the hotel to stop operating as refugee accommodation.
Other footage from the event appeared to show the moment a demonstrator was driven into by a police vehicle.
The Essex Police van could be seen knocking over the young man, who stood in Epping High Road, in what appeared to be an attempt to stop the vehicle leaving.
Protesters had erected a make-shift barrier made up of pallets and plastic fencing in the road to prevent police driving away from the scene.
But the first of four Essex Police vans crashed through the barrier, leading a protester to stand in the road, who was then knocked out of the way by the second van as people screamed: 'Oh my god' and 'what the f***'.
The youth who was mown down by the police van could then be seen getting up and brushing himself down as he shouted at the convoy.
Another man, who was standing by the side of the road, also fell to the ground during the chaotic clip.
In the aftermath of Thursday's protest incident the injured man spoke to camera where he relayed his account of events and explained the teeth were now in his 'pocket'
The injured man shows his teeth eagerly to fellow protesters including a lady with the Flag of St. George draped over her shoulders
Speaking of the incident, ACC Hooper said the video had been reported to the force, but the force had seen another video 'which maybe shows it from a different angle'.
Other footage showed protesters attacking the vans, kicking and launching missiles at them.
Police say eight officers were assaulted when crowds surrounded a small counter-demonstration.
Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow said: 'The events in Epping on Thursday were shocking and have no place in our neighbourhoods.
'We understand the concerns of the local community and support everyone's right to peaceful protest.
'We police without fear or favour, remaining impartial at all times and have legal responsibilities to ensure peaceful protest is facilitated.
'Our priority during the policing of this incident was the safety of everyone there, we used tried and tested public order tactics to achieve this.
'This included keeping opposing protestors apart to avoid violence. The early protest was peaceful, with people expressing their views.
'We will continue to support people to do this, but we will not tolerate anyone who comes with the intent to commit crime or who resort to crime because others present take a different view to them.
'Officers will act robustly and swiftly towards anyone intent on disrupting the local community's right to have their voices heard.'
Photos from later in the evening show one of the vans with a smashed windscreen, while one masked man is seen jumping up and down on the roof of another police vehicle.
They had been among up to 100 officers who battled with anti-migrant protesters who had confronted a counter an anti-racism demonstration.
A 33-year-old man from Loughton was arrested last tonight on suspicion of violent disorder and criminal damage.
He is currently in custody where he will be questioned.
Police on patrol also arrested a man on suspicion of affray, following an assault reported close to The Bell Hotel on Sunday evening.
Dean Walters, 65, of Harlow, has been charged and released on bail to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on September 24, with stringent conditions until then.
A second person was arrested on Thursday night for failing to comply with orders given around dispersal and remained in custody.
Asylum seeker Kebatu was arrested by officers on July 8 after reports of a man acting inappropriately towards a number of people.
Kebatu appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Thursday, July 10, and denied all offences.
He was charged with three counts of sexual assault, as well as one count of inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity and one count of harassment without violence.
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