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ON YER BIKE
Watch moment delivery cyclist angrily struggles with cops as he is arrested for ‘spooking horse’
Raven Morrello, 19, pleads not guilty to charges of riding his bicycle without due care or attention and a public order offence
THIS is the moment a delivery cyclist angrily struggles with cops as he is arrested for allegedly spooking their horse.
Raven Morrello 19, can be heard bitterly complaining as he is pinned to the ground before being loaded into a police van.
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The teenager claims he was “man-handled” by officers during the altercation in Manchester city centre, which was filmed by onlookers.
He has now appeared before the city’s magistrates to deny charges of riding his bicycle without due care or attention and a public order offence. It is alleged he swore at two officers on patrol on June 23, this year.
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Officers claim their horses were startled and ‘jumped around’ in the road after the delivery driver rode towards them on Booth Street, which runs parallel with Princess Street close to the town hall.
When police asked Mr Morello to get off his bike, he refused and started swearing and ‘acting aggressively’ towards the officers, prosecutors claim.
As the scene unfolded, Mr Morello was forcefully removed from his bike by officer and then arrested.
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At a first appearance before Manchester Magistrates’ Court, Mr Morrello, of Chatham Road, Old Trafford , pleaded not guilty to both offences.
Prosecuting, Asafa Jiro said: “The defendant is riding past on his bike and he swears at them, causing the horses to panic and jump in the road. The defendant becomes more aggressive. As police were arresting him, he continued swearing at the officers.”
Mr Morrello, who is well-known among restaurants around Manchester city centre, denies being aggressive towards police prior to his arrest and claims he was ‘man-handled’ by the officers during the incident.
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Defending, Adam Bonney said: “He is a Deliveroo driver and as he rode along the road the police horse was startled. He says he was riding as normal and officers then man-handled him.
"He got agitated when the officers held him to the ground. He only admits swearing when he was man-handled. It was quite a scene.”
Video footage of the defendant’s arrest is expected to be played in court when the case goes to trial on Friday, September 23.
Mr Morrello was released on bail until his next appearance.
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