A TEENAGER involved in an altercation with a police officer in Christchurch said the situation got “out of control”.

Ryan Simmons, 15, was with a group of friends on Monday night when the disturbance took place in Somerford Road.

The group had been asked by staff at McDonald’s to leave the premises, with police called when they allegedly refused.

Shortly after the group were asked to leave the area, a police officer was allegedly assaulted, sustaining bite marks to his arm.

PAVA ‘pepper’ spray was also used by the officer, who was working alone at that point.

A 15-year-old girl was arrested on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm to a police officer.

She was de-arrested while the investigation into the assault continues.

In footage shared on social media, an officer is seen pulling a girl by her arm towards the police van before pushing her, while some of the group can be heard shouting.

Ryan, who claims he was also pushed, said: “After we left McDonald’s, the police had taken our names, and a few of us were waiting by the bus stop near Lidl.

“Two of the police cars had gone and it was just one other policeman there.

“One of us made a cheeky comment, it wasn’t rude or swearing, and he got out of his van saying he’d ‘had enough’ and grabbed one of us.

“His girlfriend then said ‘no’ and the policeman grabbed her and started trying to drag her around.

“All she had said was ‘no’. We were crowding around and he pulled out the pepper spray. It was out of control”

Ryan said he didn’t see anyone bite the officer.

“It was out of control. We weren’t scared but shocked. It just got out of hand, without any real reason”, he added.

Sarah, Ryan’s mum, said she was “gobsmacked” when she saw the video clip.

“He is only 15. He might be 6ft but he’s only 15 and to physically push him like that is not acceptable,” she said. “There was no need for it. They weren’t being unruly.

“My biggest concern is you need to have a positive police presence, particularly in Somerford.”

A spokesperson for McDonald’s said a group was asked to leave after “several complaints” about inappropriate behaviour.

Police were called when the group refused to leave.

“We understand an incident then occurred outside of our store”, the spokesperson added.

“Incidents like this are very rare, however the safety of our employees and customers are of the utmost importance and we take a zero-tolerance approach to any activity that puts this at risk.”

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “An investigation into an assault on a police officer is under way and we are unable to comment at this time.”