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Police pepper-sprayed and Tasered 93-year-old disabled man, court hears
(www.theguardian.com)
They did not speak to the staff or explain to Burgess why they were there, jurors heard.
Instead, Smith told him: “Do you want to put the knife down or you will be sprayed or Tasered. Those are the options.”
Instant escalation!
Footage from body-worn cameras played to the jury showed Smith then discharging the spray directly into Burgess’s face.
“Comments made by Mr Smith suggest he emptied all of the canister into Mr Burgess’s face,” Jarvis said.
Seconds later, Smith drew his baton and struck Burgess.
Comotto deployed her Taser and Burgess cried out in pain. The officers took the knife from him.
A 93 year old man with one leg holding a fucking cutlery knife!
They could probably just have taken the knife from him without issue.
At 93 years people are not very strong.
Jurors were told there was nobody within arm’s reach of Burgess at the time and it should have been clear he was not mobile.
So they had plenty option to stand back and talk to him too! But instead decided to go on a powertrip and escalate the situation immediately!
That's a decidedly an unnecessary violent attack, and a breach of their position. So this should be punished doubly. The idea that officers should be protected by the badge when acting like criminal bullies is insane.
He was taken to hospital after the incident and later contracted Covid. He died 22 days later.
What a sad way to end a life of 93 years. Maybe the officers can't be blamed for him catching COVID, but essentially his life ended the day those officers entered his room and attacked him.
I am also not sure the quality of the home is very good, calling the police on behavior that sounds like dementia?!