The man's head injury could be seen on CCTV. Police refused to call an ambulance
Despite a lesion so large it could be seen on CCTV forming on the man's forehead, police never called an ambulance.
The man, who suffered from anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, hit his head up to 40 times in the 30 minutes after he entered custody. His behaviour continued for hours, slamming his head against the metal cell bench, the perspex door and the brick wall.
The movements were violent, forceful and repetitive, a report by the police watchdog found.
The man, known only as CAE, his treatment and a senior officer's refusal to call an ambulance have been outlined in the report by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. It found the officer's 'unconscious racism' caused him to ignore the man's severe self-harming behaviour.
CAE was a local known to police. The senior officer, who had 16 years' experience, was aware of his mental health conditions, self-harming and suicidal behaviour, along with his history of drug and alcohol use, all of which are risk factors for people in custody.
CAE was arrested in a regional town for breaching an apprehended domestic violence order. Two months prior, he had gone to the home of his former partner, where he physically assaulted and made threats against her.
The headbanging began almost as soon as he was in the police truck, and continued once placed in a clear perspex cell at the station around 11pm.
The senior officer told the commission he assumed CAE was banging his foot but didn't bother to check. He was scheduled to be checked on every 60 minutes, the maximum interval allowed by the custody management system.
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