Antaletriangle
01-13-2009, 06:57 PM
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1114076/Police-50-000-volt-Taser-pensioner-89-threat-kill-himself.html
Police fire 50,000-volt Taser at pensioner, 89, after threat to kill himself
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:22 PM on 13th January 2009
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Police fired a 50,000-volt stun gun at an 89-year-old pensioner after he threatened to cut his own throat with broken glass, it emerged today.
Officers use the Taser – which can trigger heart attacks and has led to the deaths of 270 people in the U.S. - after the man had escaped from a care home.
Fearing the pensioner was going to commit suicide they fired the stun gun, which pierced his body with two dart-like wires and knocked him to the ground.
Shocking: The pensioner was stunned by the gun, like above, after threatening to cut his own throat with broken glass (file picture)
North Wales Police, whose controversial chief constable famously tested the Taser on himself in 2007, insisted its use ‘was the safest and most appropriate option’.
The incident is now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The pensioner, from Llandudno, was treated in hospital for cuts and bruises.
A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: ‘Shortly before 6.30am on Saturday we received a report expressing concern for the safety of an elderly man, who had absconded from a care home in Llandudno.
‘He was believed to be suicidal. Officers were dispatched to search for the 89-year-old.
‘He was later found in Abbey Road, where he was threatening to cut his own throat with a piece of glass.
‘The specially trained officers made the judgement, in order to protect the life of the man, that the use of Taser was the safest and most appropriate option.
‘This was successfully done and the man was taken to Llandudno hospital. He was later transferred into the care of Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.’
A resident living opposite the site where the pensioner was stuinned said: ‘We woke up to find police tape across our drive.
‘ My granddaughter went out to ask what had happened and was told a man had been Tasered. ‘Later on Saturday a relative of the man came round.
‘She said her brother-in-law had told family he had been shot. She wanted to know if anyone had seen what had happened and was clearly concerned. She said he was badly bruised.’
Last January police in Bedford used a Taser in similar circumstances to stop mental patient Justin Perry slitting his throat.
But officers fired too late and the 31-year-old died from massive blood loss.
In September 2007, North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom volunteered to be tasered by his fellow officers .
Afterwards he described the event as 'Not pleasant' and warned: 'I very strongly advise you, if faced by an officer and a Taser, that you follow the instructions of the nice police officer.'
Police fire 50,000-volt Taser at pensioner, 89, after threat to kill himself
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:22 PM on 13th January 2009
Comments (19) Add to My Stories
Police fired a 50,000-volt stun gun at an 89-year-old pensioner after he threatened to cut his own throat with broken glass, it emerged today.
Officers use the Taser – which can trigger heart attacks and has led to the deaths of 270 people in the U.S. - after the man had escaped from a care home.
Fearing the pensioner was going to commit suicide they fired the stun gun, which pierced his body with two dart-like wires and knocked him to the ground.
Shocking: The pensioner was stunned by the gun, like above, after threatening to cut his own throat with broken glass (file picture)
North Wales Police, whose controversial chief constable famously tested the Taser on himself in 2007, insisted its use ‘was the safest and most appropriate option’.
The incident is now being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The pensioner, from Llandudno, was treated in hospital for cuts and bruises.
A North Wales Police spokeswoman said: ‘Shortly before 6.30am on Saturday we received a report expressing concern for the safety of an elderly man, who had absconded from a care home in Llandudno.
‘He was believed to be suicidal. Officers were dispatched to search for the 89-year-old.
‘He was later found in Abbey Road, where he was threatening to cut his own throat with a piece of glass.
‘The specially trained officers made the judgement, in order to protect the life of the man, that the use of Taser was the safest and most appropriate option.
‘This was successfully done and the man was taken to Llandudno hospital. He was later transferred into the care of Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.’
A resident living opposite the site where the pensioner was stuinned said: ‘We woke up to find police tape across our drive.
‘ My granddaughter went out to ask what had happened and was told a man had been Tasered. ‘Later on Saturday a relative of the man came round.
‘She said her brother-in-law had told family he had been shot. She wanted to know if anyone had seen what had happened and was clearly concerned. She said he was badly bruised.’
Last January police in Bedford used a Taser in similar circumstances to stop mental patient Justin Perry slitting his throat.
But officers fired too late and the 31-year-old died from massive blood loss.
In September 2007, North Wales Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom volunteered to be tasered by his fellow officers .
Afterwards he described the event as 'Not pleasant' and warned: 'I very strongly advise you, if faced by an officer and a Taser, that you follow the instructions of the nice police officer.'