Former Footballer Dies After Being Tasered By Police

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37087636

Why was this man killed and why were the Police kicking him when he was on the ground ?

[murraymints]

does seem to have been a bit of a heavy handed approach...hopefully the truth will out ! sad

[jackthehat]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1508011.html

The circumstances are not yet clear as to exactly what happened. But it is certain that there has been another tragic loss of life.

Avoidable? It remains to be seen...

[mikey4444]

It said on the news this morning that it will be some "weeks" before the truth is known. It took the man just minutes to die and now its going to take weeks for the reasons to come out ?

[mikey4444]

I hadn't realised that there was already a question on this subject....thanks Jack.

[jackthehat]

Would you prefer that there was a rushed statement by the officers, etc. involved, or a more comprehensive report conducted by impartial investigators?

[sandyRoe]

Those are two very good questions. As he was clearly unarmed he didn't present a threat to the police officers so should never have been tasered. The kicking will take some explaining.

[mikey4444]

Jack....it shouldn't take weeks to find out the truth.

How many Officers tasered him and how many times, and did they kick him when he was on the ground ?

Not difficult questions surely ?

[Mamyalynne]

Having read a few reports on this, it was a very manic situation - he was covered in blood after removing his Dialysis line and screaming he wanted to kill his father.

I certainly don't envy having to make snap decisions in these heated situations - tragic for everyone involved.

[mikey4444]

Mamy....I don't envy anyone in this situation either, and I especially don't envy the Police who will have to explain why they kicked him when he was down.

[Mamyalynne]

Of course there needs to be an investigation as always and it should be thorough, not rushed.

[Pico_Bags]

It's so sad and brutal.. we just pray for Him.

[jackthehat]

Whilst there are 'reports' that the Police kicked him whilst he was on the floor, that is very far from as established fact. Which is precisely why an inquiry is needed.

[Mamyalynne]

I've seen reports of 'appeared to kick' and if that is so and he was down after the taser all the more reason for a full investigation - I wasn't there. Others were.

I'm also concerned at the apparent delay in calling an ambulance.

[mikey4444]

Mamy....it appears that this man was not armed in any way, so I can't see why the Police couldn't have intervened by using normal Policing methods, rather than by the gung-ho use of a potential lethal weapon such as a Tazer.

But I guess we shall just have to wait for the official enquiry, which hopefully will be as soon as possible. My thought go out to his poor father, and the rest of his family....a sad end to a sporting life.

[Mamyalynne]

No, you can't see why - you like me weren't there - but call it gung ho if you must.

I'll wait.

Tragic, I agree and have said so previously.

[Baldric]

///It took the man just minutes to die///

From AOGs link on other thread
///The former Aston Villa striker went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance. He was pronounced dead in hospital 90 minutes later///.

[anotheoldgit]

mikey4444

If you must quote certain police actions ie kicking, please supply the correct link that reports on such actions.

[mikey4444]

AOG....no problem !

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-37087636

Paula Quinn starts here report at 0:52.

[Baldric]

Think you may have missed this in your link on your thread AOG

///One said they appeared to kick Atkinson whilst he was on the floor///

[Gromit]

By all accounts he was high on drink or drugs and wasn't of sound mind, so he was a danger to the police and public.

I am concerned at reports of multiple tasering. There have been several deaths due to tasering, and the more you taser with repeated dischargers, the more likely the result will be fatal. Tasering more than once goes against the Police services guidelines and recommendations.