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Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has described footage of a man allegedly restraining three children with cable ties in Broome on Tuesday as "confronting" and "disturbing".
The man charged over the incident says his actions weren't racist as the children's mother spoke of being heartbroken.
Authorities were called to a home on Conkerberry Road in Cable Beach about 2.15pm on Tuesday over reports three children had allegedly trespassed into a backyard pool.
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A 45-year-old man also called police to report he had restrained the children for causing damage to the backyard, Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Rod Wilde said.
Responding officers arrived to find two children Stuart, 7, and Margaret, 6, cable-tied, while another had fled the scene.
The pair's mother, Rowena, is heartbroken.
"Seeing my children like that, tied up, it was emotional like what can I do," she told A Current Affair.
The third child, an eight-year-old boy, was later found.
Mat Radelic, 45, who has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault over the alleged incident, told 9News his actions weren't racially motivated.
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"I didn't have time to think," he said.
"It didn't came from the place of hate or nothing, just disappointment and a bit of anger."
The tradesman, who claims he's lost thousands of dollars to youth crime, said he regretted his actions and was considering leaving town.
The premier said the incident was "distressing" but called for calm within the community.
"I think anyone who saw that video would have found it confronting, would have found it disturbing," Cook said at a press conference.
"I understand it raises very strong emotions within everyone in the community.
"That was a very distressing piece of video we saw yesterday … but please everyone, let the police get on and do their job."
Kimberley MP Divina D'Anna said she was "appalled".
"The vision in the video was disturbing and confronting," she said in a statement.
"At this time it's important the community remains calm and allows the police to conduct the investigation."
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Wilde said powers of citizen arrest had to be "proportionate and reasonable", conceding the alleged use of cable ties was "unusual".
"It will be alleged that the force was not proportionate or reasonable in those circumstances," he said.
Wilde said the children were looked at by paramedics and reunited with their family.
"We've spoken to the family of the children. They're very keen for the court process to proceed as it is," he said.
A witness told 9News the children were frightened, crying, shaking and calling out for their mother.
"It would have been over an hour, we were yelling at him to tell him to release them but he just wouldn't give up," Leandra McKenzie said.
Wilde confirmed police are also investigating the man's allegation of damage but noted the children were under the age of criminal responsibility, which is 10.
Under law, citizens are allowed to conduct an arrest under the rules they contact police immediately and use proportionate and reasonable force.
But Wilde said this was a "fine line" and it was better to err on the side of caution and leave the matter to police.
The 45-year-old was granted bail and will face Broome Magistrates Court on March 25.
