Three young men have been charged after a violent crowd surrounded police as they tried to break up a fight between two girls near Sydney's Coogee Beach.
Police say an officer was struck in the head with a bottle as they attempted to disperse the group of more than 50 teenagers in a park on Arden Street about 11pm on Monday, just hours before an Anzac Day dawn service in the area.
Witnesses reported seeing about 15 police cars race to the park as officers called for urgent assistance.
Burwood councillor Justin Taunton tweeted a video of emergency vehicle lights at the scene, captioned: "Wild night in Coogee @nswpolice everywhere ... I saw lots of drunk teenagers earlier".
The crowd was eventually moved on and three males, aged 14, 16 and 21, were arrested.
The 21-year-old who allegedly threw the bottle was charged with resisting an officer in execution of duty and assault police in execution of duty. He was granted conditional bail to face Waverley Local Court on May 31.
The 14-year-old boy was charged with malicious damage and breach of bail and the 16-year-old was charged with resisting arrest, offensive behaviour and failing to comply with police direction.
They were refused bail and are each due to face a children's court on Tuesday.
In a post to Twitter after the incident, witness Alana Simone Garn said: "I'm in South Coogee and they're all coming down the hill."
Local man Drew Powell replied: "They are milling around Coogee Bay Hotel, people everywhere. Probably seen about 15 police cars."
An alcohol ban has been in place at Coogee Beach since Christmas Day last year, when thousands of drunken revellers descended on the area and left tonnes of rubbish behind.
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