A Flinders man was bitten by a police dog as he struggled against officers during an early-morning arrest in the Wollongong CBD, a court has heard.
Officers were forced to set the dog on Benjamin Kunze when he resisted police, shortly after the 21-year-old and his brother Dylan Kunze, 22, refused to follow police directions, Wollongong Local Court was told yesterday.
Police were called to an all-in brawl at Keira Street nightclub Onefiveone about 1am on June 2 where more than 100 people were involved in a large-scale melee in the club and nearby street, a statement before the court said.
Officers spotted the Kunze brothers, both of Flinders, on the eastern side of Keira Street, apparently acting aggressively.
Police approached the brothers and directed them to "move on" but the men started arguing, attempting to push past officers and fuel further altercations.
The pair crossed the road but the police again spoke to them, warning them if they did not leave, they would be committing an offence, the court was told.
The brothers then attempted to walk past police in the opposite direction, still acting aggressively, before they were both asked again to leave the area.
Officers finally took hold of the pair and Benjamin Kunze continued to argue with police.
He was then arrested and began struggling, the court heard.
As a result, the dog squad was called and a police dog took hold of him, biting him in the stomach.
According to the statement, Dylan Kunze then pushed past police, attempting to intervene, and was also arrested.
Both brothers pleaded guilty to failing to comply with a direct-ion while Benjamin Kunze pleaded guilty to an additional count of resisting police.
Defence solicitor Danny Lagopodis told the court the brothers had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time. He stated the pair denied any involvement in the club brawl.
He said the men did not set out to ignore police direction but argued Benjamin felt the police had just "pushed them around".
The court was told the pair had stable employment and limited criminal records.
Magistrate Les Mabbutt fined the brothers a total of $250 over the incident.