Police fired 50,000-volt stun gun into man with epilepsy, IPCC says
The man, 40, who has accused police of being negligent and using excessive force, claims he was Tasered five times despite police being told about his medical condition.
He spent more than two weeks in hospital after the incident which is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Sophie Khan, solicitor for the injured man, said: “Our client who was suffering from an epileptic seizure at his local gym was Tasered five times by officers of the Greater Manchester Police in an attempt to restrain him.
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“The officers were made aware by the ambulance staff and the gym staff that he was suffering from an epileptic seizure but they continued to taser him in the stomach and forcibly restraint him in a manner which has caused him long term nerve damage to his wrists and back.”
A leading epilepsy charity said the incident should prompt a review of police training.
“We are disturbed that the police used a taser on a person who was clearly in, or recovering from, a medical emergency,” said Monica Cooper of Epilepsy Action.
“A taser should not be used on a person who is having, or has recently had, a seizure.
“During a seizure, and for a period of time afterwards, the person may not be fully aware of their surroundings or what is happening, and they may be confused. Police officers should be trained to recognise that seizure activity can be mistaken for violent or inappropriate behaviour.”
The man suffered an epileptic fit last November when training at a gym in Whalley Range, Manchester.
An ambulance was called but, the IPCC said, the man’s physical reactions were so extreme – including biting and punching – that paramedics struggled to treat him.
The ambulance crew called for assistance from Greater Manchester Police who sent officers to the scene.
“During the ensuing incident one officer discharged a Taser at least once into the man,” said an IPCC spokesman. “The man was also restrained. The whole incident from the man’s collapse to his transfer to hospital lasted approximately one hour.”
The victim lodged an official complaint last month with the Manchester force which referred the case to the IPCC.
Naseem Malik, an IPCC commissioner, said: “This man suffered an epileptic seizure and it is clear paramedics were struggling to treat him due to the violence of that seizure.
“Our investigation will be thorough and examine the appropriateness of the actions taken by the police officers who attended to assist the paramedics.”
The Greater Manchester force has used its Tasers infrequently compared to others, firing the stun guns 32 times between April 2004 and June 2009.
Superintendent Mike Freeman, of Greater Manchester Police’s Professional Standards Branch, said: “Officers were called to this incident because the 40-year-old man in question was suffering a seizure and posing an immediate threat to the safety of himself and others and had assaulted a number of paramedics.
“As an IPPC investigation is underway it would be inappropriate for us to comment further.”
thetimes.co.uk
Mohammed Abbasi 