A man has faced court after allegedly pushing an officer to the ground during an anti-lockdown protest in the heart of Melbourne.
Adam Richards, 48, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday charged with assaulting a police officer causing injury, affray, breaching the chief health officer's directions and riotous behaviour.
The court heard there is no allegation Richards kicked the officer, with his lawyer Anthony Brand taking umbrage to a contrary media report.
"I hope that the media can get their story correct in future," he said during the brief hearing.
Solicitor advocate Ashlea Patterson, representing the prosecution, said the allegation was Richards pushed and pulled the officer "to some degree" on Bourke Street at about 7.40pm on Thursday.
"I understand the police officer has fallen to the ground and there's an allegation that he has pulled him at that point," she said, adding he acted alone.
She said there was body-worn camera and CCTV footage of the alleged incident, which occurred minutes before the state's sixth coronavirus lockdown came into effect at 8pm.
Richards, who was wearing high-vis clothing, has been granted conditional bail and is due to next face court on November 8.
