Cop denies injuring teen in pursuit arrest

A police officer accused of assaulting a teenager has denied intentionally doing anything to hurt them.

Paul Medulla, 35, is charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault after an investigation by the NSW Police Professional Standards Command into the alleged injury of the teen during an arrest in Sydney's west in August 2022.

The court was closed while the teenager Medulla is accused of assaulting gave evidence on Monday.

Footage from police bodyworn cameras played in court showed a person crown prosecutors allege is Medulla pull out a mobile phone and appear to take a photo of the teen while using their knee on the back of their neck for “pain compliance”.

Medulla said it was “quite urgent” the teen was arrested following a pursuit involving police helicopters and riot squad officers that ended in the early hours of August 14, 2022.

A detective sergeant earlier on Monday told the court he was shouldered out of the way by officers arresting the teen, whom he told to slow down, fearing the arrest could turn into a “mess” due to urgency while there were multiple officers and aerial support.

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“What are PolAir going to do, shoot him with laser beams or something?” Medulla's barrister Paul McGirr asked.

The detective sergeant said the teen was essentially cornered, however it was unknown if they were armed and the urgency presented risk.

Mr McGirr argued Medulla acted lawfully in accordance with his training and there was no evidence he had caused any injuries.

Medulla said he told the teen not to bite after they turned their head while his hand slipped near their face.

He said he was not trying to and did not cause any injury when he struck the teen in the head with his boot.

Medulla said the teen raised his head as he was moving over his body.

He will be cross-examined when the hearing resumes in Parramatta Local Court on Tuesday.