Horrific footage has emerged of the moment a Sydney teenage girl is tackled to the ground by police and dragged in a headlock before she is knocked unconscious . ABC 's 7.30 program aired CCTV footage , showing Melissa Dunn with a group of her friends on a night out in January 2012 . The 16-year-old Aboriginal girl is chased by an officer after she punches a police van . She is then caught by her hair and arrested . Melissa was charged with resisting and hindering police but was later found not guilty as the magistrate said officers had used an 'inordinate amount of force ' in the arrest , the ABC reports . But just three days after the trial in August 2012 the then 17-year-old committed suicide and now her mother says she will be taking legal action against NSW Police over her daughter 's arrest . Scroll down for video . The 16-year-old Aboriginal girl is chased by an officer after she punches a police van , before she is caught be her hair and arrested . Melissa was charged with resisting and hindering police but was later found not guilty as the magistrate said officers had used an 'inordinate amount of force ' in the arrest . But just three days after the trial in August 2012 the then 17-year-old committed suicide and now her mother says she will be taking legal action against NSW Police over her daughter 's arrest . It is believed Melissa was out celebrating a friend 's birthday on the night of her arrest as police say several among the group were intoxicated . The footage begins as the teenage girl punches a police van and storms off . When Melissa notices an officer coming after her , she makes a run for it but does n't get very far as she is soon tackled to the ground . A struggle ensues between the officer and Melissa before the teen is knocked unconscious when her head hits the gutter . Police can be seen trying to drag her limp body into the back of a paddy wagon before trying to revive her . It is believed Melissa was out celebrating a friend 's birthday on the night of her arrest as police say several among the group were intoxicated . A struggle ensues between the officer and Melissa before the teen is knocked unconscious when her head hits the gutter . The teenager 's mother , Judy Timbery , told the ABC 'could n't believe ' how the police treated her daughter during the arrest and will be lodging a civil claim . ' I was appalled , ' she said . 'Seeing how he handled my daughter , we 're supposed to trust the police , and when you see something like that , who can you trust ? ' An internal police investigation later found the arrest of Melissa and her friend Noeleen Kane were unnecessary and that they should have been issued court attendance notices instead . Ms Kane , who was 16 at the time , was arrested for swearing but was later released . Redfern Legal Service lawyer David Porter told the ABC : 'the force used was not only unnecessary but the situation in which the police officer used force was created by himself failing to use his powers of arrest properly ' . Days after the trial ended , Melissa was found dead in a park in Maroubra , Sydney 's south . Her friends , who described Melissa as 'happy ' and 'friendly ' , said she had an argument with her boyfriend before her tragic death . Ms Timbery further told the ABC her daughter had a history of self-harm , alcohol and drugs . Anyone who is suffering from depression or mental health issues should contact beyondblue 1300 224 636 or Lifeline 131 114 .
Melissa Dunn , 16 , was with her friends on a night out in January 2012 . The Aboriginal girl was chased by police after she punched a police van . The teenager was caught by her hair before she is arrested and charged . She was found not guilty in August 2012 of resisting and hindering police . But three days after the trial , the then 17-year-old committed suicide . Friends say Melissa had an argument with her boyfriend before she was found dead in a Sydney park . Her mother says she will be taking legal action against ABC over her daughter 's arrest .