THE family of a teen once ­accused of assaulting police paid $4000 to recover a ­deleted video from his mobile phone and clear his name.

Instead, two police officers have now been charged with assault and suspended from operational duties with pay.

The family of one of the boys originally accused has told the Herald Sun an officer allegedly grabbed one teen by the ear and punched him in the head.

The video, seen by the Herald Sun, features audio of what appears to be the teenagers and police officers arguing.

After sounds of a scuffle, officers are heard yelling “you do not assault police”.

“You touched me first, man, what is with you?” the teen says.

A police officer then can be heard saying “because you are being a smart-arse”.

Later in the altercation a teen is heard shouting “you are twisting my arm”.

Clear vision of any alleged assault does not appear to have been captured.

The police officer confiscated the teen’s possessions and locked him in a police vehicle.

The then 16-year-old alleges that when he was handed back his phone, the footage had mysteriously disappeared.

The boy’s father told the Herald Sun the Professional Standards Command was investigating how the video had been deleted.

The teens were charged with resisting arrest and possession of marijuana, but all charges were later dropped.

Leading Senior Constable Dennis Gundrill and Senior Constable Simon Mareangareu will face the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court in May over the alleged assault on the morning of Christmas Day 2014 near a convenience store in Vermont.

The father said he paid an IT consultant, used by the Australian Federal Police and NSW Police, to recover the video and clear his son’s name.

The father said police had “covered up the investigation”.

“The video will be used as evidence in the upcoming court case,” he said.

“The policeman grabbed my son’s friend by the ear, then he leans forward and punches him in the head.

“It shows the cop accuse him of being a smart-arse before it happens.

“He is a skinny little kid and the policeman is really big.

“When they saw my son filming, he was wrestled and his arm was twisted,” he said.

james.dowling2@news.com.au