A man who performed a backflip on a police bus was among four people arrested during the Sydney Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night.
About 10.45pm on Saturday night, police arrested a 22-year-old man on Crown Street who allegedly climbed onto a police bus which was transporting police employees who had participated in the parade.
Vision of the incident, uploaded to the @browncardigan Instagram account, showed the man performing a backflip on the moving bus. He was wearing what appeared to be blue jorts, a peach-coloured top and suspenders.
The crowd cheered the man on, with one yelling “do it again”.
Shortly after, police could be seen arresting the man.
Police said the man was issued an infringement notice (a fine) for travelling on a moving vehicle.
In another incident on Saturday night, a 57-year-old man was arrested about 9.20pm after allegedly attempting to manoeuvre his vehicle around mounted unit officers (police on horses) on Denham Street to get through a police road closure.
As the 57-year-old was being arrested, police said the man allegedly threatened a news cameraman.
He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station before being taken to hospital for a pre-existing condition.
On his release, the man is expected to be charged with two counts of assaulting a police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm; driving a motor vehicle on a road in a manner that menaces another person; and not complying with a direction given by a police officer.
He is also expected to be charged with stalking or intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm and driving with low-range prescribed concentration of alcohol.
In a third incident about 10.25pm, police arrested a 48-year-old man who allegedly inappropriately touched a woman and punched a man who was with her.
The 48-year-old was taken to Surry Hills, where he was charged with sexually touching another person without consent, and common assault. He was refused bail to appear in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.
In the fourth incident about 9.45pm, police arrested a 33-year-old man for the alleged assault of a security guard on Bourke Street.
The man was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with common assault and hindering or resisting a police officer in the execution of duty.
He was granted bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on April 10.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Rod Smith said the overall behaviour of crowds at the Mardi Gras parade was pleasing despite a small handful of people doing the wrong thing.
“Throughout the operation, police were focused on maintaining public safety and security to make the evening a memorable one for the right reasons,” Assistant Commissioner Smith said.
“A small handful of people did the wrong thing, and they were dealt with swiftly and appropriately. The vast majority of the large crowds were well behaved and looked after each other.”
Sydney Mardi Gras said the 2025 parade had an estimated 200,000 spectators cheering from the sidelines in addition to more than 10,000 marchers across 180 floats.
Editor’s note: This article was written by Ben Grubb, who pays $50 annually for Mardi Gras memberships to access discounts, including at retail stores and bars, but doesn’t use the membership’s voting rights.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
