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Old 17-10-12, 02:38 PM   #1
DJ123
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Default Blind Police use Taser on blind man

Stunned for words;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-19979184

A police force has apologised after an officer used a Taser on a blind man whose white stick was mistaken for a sword.

Colin Farmer, 61, was stunned by police following reports of a man walking through Chorley with a samurai sword.

Ch Supt Stuart Williams, of Lancashire Police, said the force had "deep regrets" and had "clearly put this man through a traumatic experience".

Mr Farmer was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.

"It felt like I was grabbing an electricity pylon," he said.

Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes, said he thought he was being attacked by thugs.

He was walking to a pub to meet friends on Friday when the officer fired the Taser. It forced him to drop his stick and he fell to the ground, he said.

He said the experience had left him "shaking like a leaf" and scared to go outside.

The case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said the incident was being investigated and the officer's Taser had been withdrawn.
'Extremely sorry'
Mr Williams said police had "received a number of reports that a man was walking through Chorley armed with a samurai sword".


"A description of the offender was circulated to officers and patrols were sent to look for the man," he said.

"One of the officers who arrived in Chorley believed he had located the offender.

"Despite asking the man to stop, he failed to do so and the officer discharged his Taser."

Mr Williams said it "became apparent that this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away", taking him to Chorley Hospital.

He added that the force "deeply regrets what has happened".

"We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry for that," he said.

"We have launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons can be learned."

A man carrying a samurai sword was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
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Old 17-10-12, 02:49 PM   #2
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

That must be one bad ass cane to be mistaken for a samurai sword. I can understand why an officer would be in fear for their safety after the words 'samurai sword' have been used, but that's pretty retarded. I can only guess the officer thought it was a sheathed sword and was bricking it.
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Old 17-10-12, 02:51 PM   #3
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

Just as well the copper didn't have a gun.
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Old 17-10-12, 03:40 PM   #4
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

From the Harlow Star report of the same event

http://www.harlowstar.co.uk/News/Nat...-0-1993223.xnf

"Meanwhile Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes and walks at a "snail's pace", was on his way to the pub to meet friends for a drink and did not realise anything was afoot. He had no idea a police officer had mistaken his thin white stick for a machete and ordered him to stop before pulling the trigger on the taser gun."

Before reaching any conclusions it would be interesting to see what kind of stick this chap was using and in what way. Tap-tapping as he went or held out in front sweeping slightly. Bit odd to mistake something thin and white for a sword but then he did not stop when challenged. Considering so many people these days have headphones in and cannot hear anything else this last bit is a tad worrying on it's own.
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Old 17-10-12, 03:49 PM   #5
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

Quote:
Originally Posted by Luckypants View Post
Just as well the copper didn't have a gun.
+1

stop or i'll shoot... ooopppsss it was a blind man.
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Old 17-10-12, 04:35 PM   #6
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*shakes head*
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Old 17-10-12, 04:40 PM   #7
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

I doubt he was tap tapping unless he'd been listening t the audiobook of treasure island and was doing his best blind pew impression, most of them seem to sweep the canes back and forth these days but its still not an aggressive looking motion now one you'd think natural for a sword.

They need to reissue police advice on using weapons something like that it must be only if they or someone else is in danger or the suspect is escaping.
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Old 17-10-12, 04:53 PM   #8
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

My guess the cop was behind him, saw him waving his arm and sweeping something around, but couldn't see what it was. When he challenged him and got no response he remembered his training "Only discharge the taser if you consider yourself at immediate risk" *. The old man then farted. More of a silent but deadly which sounded like the swooshing of a katana. The rest is history!

* I know nothing about police taser training.
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Old 17-10-12, 04:55 PM   #9
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

I also don't know what the rules on taser or other weapon use are but I'm pretty sure it shouldn't be: hit them with it while they're shuffling along slowly.
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Old 17-10-12, 04:58 PM   #10
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Default Re: Blind Police use Taser on blind man

I choked on my tea when I read this story on the BBC earlier. That's the problem with 'arming' people, despite the standarised training, there will never be a standardised reaction. I don't support a compensation culture but I hope he gets a payout.
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