A failed candidate in the South Australian Senate and protesting against vaccines has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer outside an Adelaide pub.
Key points:
- Raina Cruise is charged with assaulting a police officer
- A video presented in court shows a discussion with the police and the alleged assault
- His party’s website says he regularly attends vaccine rallies
Raina Jane Cruise, 38, appeared today in Adelaide Magistrates’ Court on charges of assault before her lawyer pleaded not guilty on her behalf.
She has pledged to be tried in the District Court.
During a previous appearance, the court released footage of the camera carrying the police force showing an altercation between Mrs. Cruise, her co-defendant Matthew Stephen Priest, and police in October 2021.
In the pictures, Ms. Cruise told the two police officers that they were being rude before stopping to hear what they were being accused of.
Raina Cruise leaves Adelaide Magistrates’ Court. (ABC News: Meagan Dillon)
The video showed police telling Mrs Cruise that she was “causing drama in Exeter”, referring to the Exeter Hotel on Rundle Street in Adelaide.
“You’re taking off everyone’s masks; you’ve had a fist hit with security,” police told Ms. Cruise in the picture.
Mrs. Cruise responded to the picture: “No, we didn’t.”
When asked to smooth out a form of identification, Ms. Cruise told officers they were “funny” and “funny” before an argument broke out between police and a man.
Mrs. Cruise allegedly assaulted the officer.
The Exeter Hotel in Adelaide, where Mrs. Cruise was accused of removing masks from people. (ABC News: Malcolm Sutton)
Habitual in anti-vaccine concentrations
Ms. Cruise ran in the 2022 federal election for the Informed Medical Options Party, campaigning for bodily autonomy and was a regular at anti-vaccination protests.
Her candidacy profile said Ms Cruise was “very involved in the Adelaide Freedom Demonstration Group”.
“He is also passionate about raising awareness of the potential dangers of vaccines and also fighting and protecting the bodily autonomy of all Australians,” he stated on his profile on the Informed Medical Options Party website.
His party received 2,248 votes.
Mr. Priest has yet to answer his charge of assault.
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Posted 13 hours ago 13 hours ago Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 4:59 AM, updated 12 hours ago Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 5:54 AM