A Western Australian police officer who allegedly pinned an Aboriginal boy to the ground with his knee while the child pleaded he could not breathe should be ‘stood down immediately’, according to state Greens leader Brad Pettitt, as allegations were detailed during a parliamentary committee hearing.
The allegations against Constable Lachlan Costello, who goes by the nickname ‘Tiny’, were aired by Aboriginal Legal Service of WA chief executive officer Peter Collins in May during an inquiry into modernising the Corruption and Crime Commission Act.
Collins told the committee the first incident allegedly occurred early last year when the boy ran from the officer, stopped and lowered to the ground with his hands behind his back. “When the officer reaches the boy, he drives his knee into his back. The force of the impact is audible … and causes the boy to cry out in pain. The officer then uses his knee to pin the boy to the ground, pressing his weight into his back for about half a minute,” Collins said.
He said the boy called out: “Tiny, you’re going to kill me bro. I can’t breathe, Tiny. Please let up. I love my family, Tiny. Please … please, I love my mum, man.” The child repeated that he thought he was going to die.
A separate incident in 2024, captured on body-worn footage obtained by the ABC through freedom of information, allegedly shows Costello wearing a badge reading “FOLD C--TS” on his police uniform while arresting a 16-year-old Aboriginal teenager. Collins told the committee the officer was recorded saying the boy was “singing” because “he’s shit scared”. Costello was also shown on another officer’s body-worn footage turning off his camera while speaking to the boy.
Collins said he had complained directly to WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch late last year about the badge, but received no response. He said a separate complaint about the knee-press incident also went nowhere. “That is conduct, unarguably, in my view ... a charge of assault would inevitably be preferred,” he said. “A police complaint made by me went nowhere. Nothing to see here.”
Brad Pettitt said the incidents were “despicable” and raised serious questions about what WA Police tolerated. “The fact that a police officer was emboldened to paste this message on his uniform while arresting a ‘shit-scared’, as he described it, Aboriginal child is egregious,” he told the committee.
A police spokesperson told the ABC the badge matter was an “isolated incident” and the badge had been identified by a supervisor and removed before the officer attended his next incident. The officer engaged with local youths through sport, where the term on the badge was common, but that did not excuse the conduct and the officer was “appropriately sanctioned and educated”.
The masthead has contacted WA Police for comment from Costello.
Pettitt said the incidents could not be separated from broader concerns about systemic racism. “First Nations children in WA are locked up at 25 times the rate of non-Indigenous children,” he said.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The allegations involve the use of force against a child and an officer displaying an offensive phrase, raising questions about police accountability and the treatment of Aboriginal people in Western Australia.
- Collins’ complaints to the police commissioner went unanswered for months, suggesting internal oversight mechanisms may be failing.
- The case comes amid broader scrutiny of WA Police’s record on racial bias and the disproportionate incarceration of Aboriginal children.
Background
Constable Lachlan Costello, known as ‘Tiny’, is based in Geraldton. The two incidents were allegedly captured on body-worn footage: a knee-press on an Aboriginal boy early last year, and a badge reading “FOLD C--TS” worn during a 2024 arrest of a 16-year-old. The allegations were detailed by Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Peter Collins at a May parliamentary hearing. WA Police have said the badge was an isolated incident and that the officer was sanctioned.
Key Perspectives
Peter Collins (ALS CEO): said the knee-press was “very close to the worst thing I have ever seen” and that a charge of assault should be preferred. His complaints to the police commissioner “went nowhere”.
Brad Pettitt (WA Greens leader): called the allegations “unthinkable” and said the officer should be stood down immediately. He linked the incidents to systemic racism in policing.
WA Police spokesperson: said the badge was an “isolated incident” that had been dealt with by a supervisor, and the officer was “appropriately sanctioned and educated”.
What to Watch
- Whether the Corruption and Crime Commission or WA Police launch a formal investigation into both incidents.
- Potential legal action by the Aboriginal Legal Service or families of the children involved.
- Any further evidence or footage that may emerge from Freedom of Information requests.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedBrad Pettitt called for the officer to be stood down immediately.The Age - Latest News: “Any public servant wearing such a badge should be stood down immediately and investigated, a police officer with the power to detain and use force,” Pettitt said.”
- SupportedPettitt described the allegations as “unthinkable”.The Age - Latest News: “WA Greens leader Brad Pettitt told this masthead the allegations were “unthinkable”.”
- SupportedThe officer allegedly pinned an Aboriginal boy to the ground with his knee while the boy pleaded that he could not breathe.The Age - Latest News: “The officer then uses his knee to pin the boy to the ground, pressing his weight into his back for about half a minute”
- SupportedCollins told the committee the officer drove his knee into the boy’s back and pinned him there for about half a minute.The Age - Latest News: ““When the officer reaches the boy, he drives his knee into his back. The force of the impact is audible … and causes the boy to cry out in pain. The officer then uses his knee to pin the boy to the ground, pressing his weight into his back for about half a minute,””
- SupportedThe boy said, “Tiny, you’re going to kill me bro. I can’t breathe, Tiny. Please let up. I love my family, Tiny. Please … please, I love my mum, man.”The Age - Latest News: ““Tiny, you’re going to kill me bro. I can’t breathe, Tiny. Please let up. I love my family, Tiny. Please … please, I love my mum, man.””
- SupportedIn a separate 2024 arrest of a 16-year-old Aboriginal teenager, Costello allegedly wore a badge reading “FOLD C--TS” on his uniform; the incident was captured on body-worn footage.The Age - Latest News: “Constable Lachlan Costello, allegedly wore a badge with “FOLD C--TS” on his police uniform during a separate arrest of a 16-year-old Aboriginal teenager in 2024, with both incidents allegedly captured on body-worn footage.”
- SupportedCollins told the committee the officer was recorded saying the boy was “singing” because “he’s shit scared”.The Age - Latest News: “Collins told the committee the officer was recorded saying the boy was “singing” because “he’s shit scared”.”
- SupportedCollins said he complained directly to Commissioner Col Blanch late last year about the badge and received no response.The Age - Latest News: “Collins told the committee he had complained directly to WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch late last year about the officer wearing the badge, but had received no response six months later.”
- SupportedCollins said a charge of assault would inevitably be preferred, in his view.The Age - Latest News: ““That is conduct, unarguably, in my view ... a charge of assault would inevitably be preferred,” he told the committee.”
- SupportedPettitt said the officer was emboldened to wear the message while arresting a “shit-scared” Aboriginal child, calling it egregious.The Age - Latest News: ““The fact that a police officer was emboldened to paste this message on his uniform while arresting a ‘shit-scared’, as he described it, Aboriginal child is egregious.””
- SupportedA police spokesperson said the badge was an isolated incident, was identified by a supervisor and removed before the officer attended his next incident.The Age - Latest News: “A police spokesperson told the ABC the badge matter was an “isolated incident”, and the badge had been identified by a supervisor and removed before the officer attended his next incident.”
- SupportedPettitt said First Nations children in WA are locked up at 25 times the rate of non-Indigenous children.The Age - Latest News: ““First Nations children in WA are locked up at 25 times the rate of non-Indigenous children,” he said.”