Police pepper-sprayed and Tasered 93-year-old disabled man, court hears

The Guardian ^ | May 19 | Sammy Gecsoyler

[RandFan]

A 93-year-old disabled man was sprayed in the face with synthetic pepper spray before being shot by a Taser and hit with a baton by police officers, a court has heard.

Donald Burgess was allegedly assaulted by PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto after officers responded to a call at his care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, on 21 June 2022.

He was taken to hospital after the incident and later contracted Covid. He died 22 days later.

Staff called police after Burgess, who had one leg, was seen poking a care worker in the stomach with a cutlery knife after flicking food at her. Managers wheeled him back to his room and tried for half an hour to calm him before calling 999.

The officers were dispatched under a grade 1 call, meaning it was treated as the highest level of emergency.

Prosecutors claim the officers used “unjustified and unlawful” force within seconds of entering the pensioner’s room.

Southwark crown court was told on Monday that 1 minute and 23 seconds elapsed between the officers arriving and Burgess being shot with the Taser.

Smith, 51, denies two counts of assault by using Pava spray and a baton, and Comotto denies one charge of assault by discharging her Taser.

[1_Rain_Drop]

Yes, that’s it! an IV. She never received fluid through it. They just took blood.