Video emerges online showing Queensland police detaining, swearing at and accusing ABC journalist Josh Bavas of being ‘off his chops on something’

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A video has emerged online showing Queensland police detaining, swearing at and accusing an ABC journalist of being “off his chops” on drugs.

The two officers detained Brisbane police reporter Josh Bavas at the Oxley Bunnings store, in Brisbane’s south-west, on Saturday.

“Mate, the fact that you’ve got pinpoint eyes and you’re looking directly into the sun and they’re not dilating due to the sunlight, I believe you to be under the influence of a dangerous drug,” one officer says.

“For the moment I’m going to detain you for the purposes of a search.”

When Bavas questioned the move, the officer demanded identification.

“It’s in the car,” Bavas replied.

The officer then turns to a colleague.

Josh Bavas (@JoshBavas) I was just detained by police outside Bunnings because they said I was on drugs. I have a cold. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/mU5zSHGtE3

“He’s off his chops on something,” he says.

The colleague tells Bavas: “If we hadn’t hung on to you mate you’d float off into fucking outer space.”

Bavas posted the 30-second video to Twitter.

“I have a cold,” he wrote. “Unbelievable.”

The ABC news director Gaven Morris later took to Twitter to address those concerned about Bavas.



“Rest assured he is fine – apart from his cold – and is getting on with his Saturday,” he said.

The Queensland Police Service has been contacted for comment.