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Police officers who Tasered 92-year-old amputee Donald Burgess used excessive force
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A misconduct panel has found that two police officers, PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto, used unjustified and excessive force when they Pava sprayed, struck with a baton, and Tasered 92-year-old Donald Burgess in his wheelchair at a care home in St Leonards-on-Sea in June 2022. Burgess, an amputee with dementia, had threatened carers with a dinner knife. Gross misconduct allegations against both officers were proven at the Sussex Police headquarters hearing.
Wichtige Punkte
- PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto faced allegations of gross misconduct following an incident at Park Beck care home in June 2022.
- The officers used a baton, Pava spray, and a Taser on 92-year-old Donald Burgess, an amputee with dementia who was in a wheelchair.
- Burgess had threatened carers with a dinner knife prior to the officers' arrival.
- A misconduct panel at Sussex Police headquarters concluded that the officers' actions constituted unjustified and excessive use of force.
- Both officers had previously been acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2025.