A police officer is in hospital with serious head injuries after the arrest of a 16-year-old boy turned violent in northern Sydney.
Police said they responded to a call for help from security guards at the Macquarie Shopping Centre when they came across the teenager acting suspiciously near the corner of Balaclava and Epping roads in Marsfield about 10:00pm.
The teenager allegedly became aggressive.
After two other police officers were called in, the teenager allegedly kicked the policeman in the face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the road.
The teenager was charged with grievous bodily harm and assault offences.
He was refused bail to appear at a children's court tomorrow.
Detective Superintendent John Duncan said doctors believe the 37-year-old constable may take weeks to recover.
"The doctors were told, [and] his family, [he is in] a serious but stable condition but it is going to take some time, possibly weeks, before he is able to have a full appreciation of how serious his injury is," he said.
"In saying that, I went to the hospital last night and spoke to the officer a couple of hours ago.
"I spoke to his wife and obviously, at this point in time, he is conscious. But it is going to be a long road to recovery.
"He has been offered support by his colleagues and the Police Commissioner contacted his wife."
'He had headwounds': Witness
Anthony Elgood was leaving the neighbouring Macquarie University when he saw the aftermath of the alleged assault.
"I saw one police officer lying in the gutter and another man lying down ... injured on the floor," he said.
"I couldn't see what happened but the police officer seemed to be fairly badly injured, he had headwounds by the look of it.
"There were a lot of police cars, about eight police cars, the riot squad, police dogs too. I saw three ambulances show up in the time that I was here."
Mr Elgood said it was normally a nice quiet area.
"It's not what you'd expect on a Monday night coming home from Macquarie University," he said.
The officer was taken to the Royal North Shore Hospital.
