Cops who arrested NRL star Tom Starling under criminal investigation

Three police officers embroiled in the violent arrest of star Tom Starling at a bar on the central coast in 2020 are officially under criminal investigation.In an incident Ricky Stuart — Starling’s NRL coach at the Canberra Raiders — labelled ‘horrendous’, the hooker, 25, was initially charged with seven offences, including assaulting an officer in execution of duty and affray.All Starling’s charges were eventually dropped and on Wednesday, 2GB radio host revealed the
The development follows Magistrate Daniel Covington in February stating that the police officers involved in the incident behaved outside of their duty.CCTV footage showed police punching Starling in the face multiple times during the arrest, a scene Covington labelled a ‘free for all’. NRL star Josh Starling was left battered and bruised following the run-in with NSW police in 2020 ‘One that is more typically seen in a street fight as opposed to officers in their duty,’ Covington said in Sydney’s Downing Centre Court at the time. ‘Clearly what occurred was nothing other than Tom being assaulted himself.’Magistrate Covington added Senior Constable Daniel Drew admitted to the court that he had ‘no reason to punch’ Starling.Earlier this year, the court heard the Starling brothers were celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday at a pub on the night in question.Starling and his brothers fought with the officers, but only his youngest brother — Josh Starling — was found guilty of any charges relating to the incident.The NRL star was left battered and bruised after his run-in with the police and always maintained ‘he did nothing wrong on the night’. The court heard that Josh Starling, 21, was arrested at the scene after he allegedly pushed Khan Morris, a security guard, who allegedly called his mother a ‘slut’. The Raiders hooker (pictured, with girlfriend Chelsea Balzan) has always maintained he did ‘nothing wrong’ On Wednesday, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham revealed three cops involved in the incident will face a criminal investigation from the Professional Standards CommandThe younger Starling was found guilty of common assault against Mr Morris and resisting police, but the two charges of assaulting an officer against him were dismissed.He was sentenced to an 18-month conditional release order without conviction, the ABC reported.Starling’s lawyer Samar Singh-Panwar also stated in February the possibility of a civil action against NSW Police for their conduct remains on the table.A NSW Police spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday that police were now investigating the conduct of some of the officers involved in the fracas.’Investigators from Professional Standards Command are continuing to conduct inquiries in relation to the conduct of officers responding to an incident on the Central Coast on December 5, 2020,’ the spokesperson said.’As their inquiries are ongoing, no further information is available.’The trio’s mother, Joanne Starling, told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Wednesday that it had been a ‘tough few years’ for the whole family. The mother of the Raiders star (pictured, centre) said her son was almost stood down from the NRL as a result of police alleging that he tried to grab one of their firearms during the incident’It has definitely taken a toll on us all (…) it turned our whole world upside down,’ she said.’I was there and I witnessed the majority of (the incident) and to see that on the front page of the news was just devastating.’Both my husband and penipu I have brought our three boys up to respect the police, they have never been in trouble with the law.’Joanne told Fordham accusations Tom had tried to grab a firearm from police had nearly resulted in the NRL standing him down.’We know that there are police investigating the police… and I would expect that these findings that were made by the magistrate will be something that police take into account when they consider that further,’ Mr Singh-Panwar said.’There is the potential for a civil action against NSW Police, particularly given the findings His Honour made in relation to the conduct of certain police as it was directed at Tom Starling in particular.’