Footage has emerged of a man being repeatedly tasered at close range during a daytime arrest in Sydney.
The man is tasered in the head during footage of the inner-Sydney arrest shared on social media on Monday, after police repeatedly order him to get on the ground.
An officer continues to taser him as he lies on the ground.
"What are you doing, man ... are you serious?," the man is heard saying.
NSW Police in a statement said the 32-year-old was under police guard in hospital following a foot pursuit in Darlinghurst on Monday afternoon.
They said officers had been patrolling Oxford Street when they noticed a man and woman.
Police claim the pair split up as officers approached, with the man fleeing while carrying a bag.
They later found a bag, allegedly containing stolen items, on Oxford Street.
In a social media post, a woman who said she was the man's girlfriend said he was "an innocent man and an Aboriginal".

The footage shows the man being repeatedly tasered in the head, neck and chest during the arrest. Source: Nine Network
His arrest comes after an Indigenous teenager earlier this month had his legs kicked out from beneath him, during a heavily-scrutinised Sydney arrest captured on camera.
The 16-year-old was taken to hospital with minor injuries following the Surry Hills arrest, which NSW Police said was being investigated by the professional standards command.
The teenager had allegedly told a male police officer "I'll crack you in the f**king jaw, bro" before he was thrown to the ground.
He was later released without charge. His family has called for the police constable responsible to be charged.