Police under investigation after tasering 93-year-old care home resident with dementia

Two police officers are under criminal investigation for manslaughter, after a Taser was fired at a 93-year-old man in a wheelchair, who had threatened care home staff with a knife.

Retired carpenter Donald Burgess, who only had one leg as well as dementia, died on 13 July, three weeks after police used pepper-spray, a baton and a Taser on him.

Responding to reports that a wheelchair-bound resident was threatening care home staff with a knife, officers from Sussex Police arrived at a care home in St Leonards-on-Sea on 21 June.

Care home staff showed officers into a room where the 93-year-old man was holding a knife.

'Officers briefly engaged with the man' according to a statement by Sussex Police. A police officer then used pepper spray to try to disarm him but when that failed, a baton was used. Another officer drew his Taser and fired at Mr Burgess - stunning the disabled man with a shock of electric current.

The officers then removed the knife and handcuffed the pensioner. Mr Burgess was arrested and taken to hospital for medical treatment.

But the 93-year-old's condition got worse and he died three weeks later on 13 July.

Disabled man died three weeks later

The exact cause of death has not been established and questions have been raised over the use of force against Mr Burgess.

Sussex Police has referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), in response to allegations about the excessive use of force by its officers. The two police constables are under criminal investigation on suspicion of manslaughter. Gross misconduct notices have been served by the IOPC on the two officers involved.

Mr Burgess' wife Ethel died in a hospice in 2015 after being diagnosed with cancer. The widower moved into the care home after his diabetes resulted in him having his leg amputated.

The IOPC is reviewing the officers’ body camera footage.

Graham Beesley, IOPC regional director, said: “I want to express my sympathies to the man’s relatives and those who knew him. We have advised his next of kin of our independent investigation and explained the steps we will be taking.

“This will include investigating whether the force used by the two officers against this male, was reasonable, necessary and proportionate in the circumstances and in line with local and national policies, procedures and guidance.”