Anti-vaccine Senate candidate denies assaulting police officer outside Adelaide pub

A failed South Australian Senate candidate and anti-vaccine protester has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer outside an Adelaide pub.

Raina Jane Cruise, 38, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court today charged with assault, before her lawyer entered not guilty pleas on her behalf.

She has been committed to stand trial in the District Court.

During an earlier appearance, police body-worn camera footage was released by the court showing an altercation between Ms Cruise, her co-accused Matthew Stephen Priest and police in October 2021.

In the footage, Ms Cruise told the two police officers they were being rude before stopping to hear what they were being accused of.

The video showed police telling Ms Cruise she was “causing dramas at the Exeter”, referring to the Exeter Hotel on Adelaide’s Rundle Street.

“You’re pulling everyone’s masks down; you’ve had a punch-on with security,” police told Ms Cruise in the footage.

Ms Cruise replied in the footage: “No, we didn’t.”

When asked to hand over a form of identification, Ms Cruise told the officers they were “amusing” and “funny” before an argument between police and a man intensified.

Ms Cruise then allegedly assaulted the female officer.

Regular at anti-vaccine rallies 

Ms Cruise ran in the 2022 federal election for the Informed Medical Options Party, campaigning for bodily autonomy, and was a regular at anti-vaccination rallies.

Her candidacy profile stated Ms Cruise was “heavily involved in the freedom rally group in Adelaide”.

“She is also passionate about bringing awareness regarding the potential dangers of vaccines and also fighting for and protecting every Australian’s bodily autonomy,” her profile stated on the Informed Medical Options Party website.

Her party received 2,248 votes.

Mr Priest is yet to answer his assault charge.

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