Australian prisoner filmed tumbling out back of police van, onto busy road

Dashcam footage has captured the shocking moment an Australian alleged armed robber kicked open a police van door and tumbled out the back.

The footage, obtained by 7 News and originally posted on Dashcam Owners Australia, shows the police van starting to turn right at a busy Perth intersection. 

The back door of the van suddenly flies open, and the man can be seen falling out onto the road before the van drives away. 

The officers reportedly heard a thud before they saw from their rear view camera the alleged robber had escaped. 

The officers quickly caught up with the man, who only managed to run away 150 metres from where he fell. Officers reportedly caught him within one minute.

The shocking footage shows the alleged criminal tumble out the back of the van.
The shocking footage shows the alleged criminal tumble out the back of the van. Photo credit: Dashcam Owners Australia / 7 News

According to Western Australia Police Acting Commissioner Greg Knott, the 31-year-old man was being transported to the Perth Watch House after being arrested and charged over an alleged armed robbery at a liquor store. 

Knott says the back door of the van was possibly not secured properly, and the incident has triggered a police conduct investigation.

"As to how the door opened, we're not entirely sure," Knott told local media. 

"We suspect that he may have somehow forced the door - we don't believe he's fallen out - however, I'm prepared to leave that open to investigators." 

Australia's Police Minister Michelle Roberts described the incident as "very disturbing". 

"It's obviously very important that prisoners are properly secured and kept safe," she said. 

"I don't know whether there's any failure in terms of locking the van procedure, or whether there's a mechanical fault."

Knott said "thankfully" these incidents don't happen often. 

"If there are things that need to be changed, we'll do that," he said. 

The man suffered no injuries from his fall but has been handed extra charges. These include failing to comply with reporting obligations, breach of bail and escaping from lawful custody. 

Newshub.