Electrician tasered - for having a screwdriver!
A MAN who went shopping after repairing a pub's lights was Tasered by armed police because he still had a screwdriver in his pocket.
Chris Thomas of Port Tennant Road received four bursts of 50,000 volts from police officers after they confronted him in the Peacocks store in Swansea city centre in February last year.
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Chris Thomas
An armed response vehicle had been called after he had been spotted by security staff in BHS with the screwdriver protruding from his pocket, and then followed by city centre rangers.
But the case against the 45-year-old, who had been charged with a public order offence, was thrown out by magistrates, after an application by his representative, Grayson Tanner, who argued the evidence given to the court from the five witnesses in the case was inconsistent, and that officers had not followed correct procedures before they had brought him to the floor in the shop, and used the Taser.
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Mr Thomas, known to friends as Ginger, said after the case: "I am really happy the case has finished, it has gone on a long time.
"I have a very supportive family and it's been difficult for them too, and I'm very grateful to them, as well as my bosses, who have given me the time to come to court."
Magistrates were told Mr Thomas, an electrical engineer, was a member of the Railwaymen's Club in Wind Street, and had been mending lights on the premises as a favour.
But when he left to go into town, he had forgotten he still had two small screwdrivers in his pocket, and a small knife.
Three rangers were called to court and they described Mr Thomas, who had drunk several pints of cider, as walking in an "unsteady" manner, but otherwise not acting suspiciously.
But some of their evidence was described as inconsistent, with one telling magistrates that Mr Thomas had put his hands up when instructed by police, and others who did not give the same information.
At the start of the case, Andrew Smith, prosecuting, said: "This was something of an unfortunate incident, when a man was arrested out of a misunderstanding."
Mr Thomas was praised for his first aid efforts in 2004, after being first on the scene at a car crash in Fabian Way, which killed three people.
He added: "It is a ridiculous waste of tax-payers' money to bring this to court. But I just want to move on now."
nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk
Comments
by watchdog12360
Monday, September 17 2012, 9:40PM
“The Taser gun has become the favourite toy of police in Wales. They just just love using it on innocent and defenseless people. It's use on genuinely dangerous people is tiny in comparison to the total, mostly unnecessary, times this lethal weapon is used.
People are dying as a result of being Tasered and Amnesty International has condemned their use.
I don't believe the cop's account and I don't believe the 'rangers' (whoever the hell they are?) and neither did the court.
After a long lifetime of observation It is my opinion that in many instances individuals only join police, or security forces to satisfy an underlying desire to "legally" exert force over or hurt to other human beings. I am no longer surprised by these acts of violence and believe the instances will only increase unless there is massive public outcry Its no joke - Story after story of police corruption and unnecessary violence towards innocent members of the public.
The Police are out of control.
http://tinyurl.com/4xhpxmn”
by Bettingmad
Monday, September 17 2012, 6:33PM
“For all the comments suggesting the police over reacted where did you get that from? Selective journalism springs to mind. They may or may not have over reacted but don't let a good story get in the way of facts. Tasered for just standing still in public view, I wouldn't think so some how.”
by RichardCorso
Monday, September 17 2012, 3:18PM
“Yet another incident that shows the Police Service in this country has disconnected with the general public. Where has commonsense gone? The Police ask for our help and assistance in stopping crime- this action only alienates peaceful people against the Police.
What next are they going to taser a plumber for carrying lengths of lead piping?
I hope the management of these Police Officers considers placing these Police Officers on a re-training course -
1 on the correct use and application of when to use a Taser in a public area and
2 Have them to consider their actions before deploying a taser. This electrician actions, the conversation that they had with the electrician should have given them clue that he wasn't about to rob the store.
Finally their escalated actions by deploying the use of a taser and deploying it several times could have lead to manslaughter charges against the Police.
Lets face it most Police service Officers once called Police Constables now are only reactive in their work- very little proactive policing is done so all that these Police Officers see day in day out are people that have caused crime - through drink, drugs or are just thugs. Through this they tarnish ALL of the general public as being thugs, criminals and having a aggressive personality.”
by swanseajock
Monday, September 17 2012, 2:39PM
“There seems to be more to this than meets the eye! I know a few cops, but none of them have x-ray vision. So I would be very surprised if they overeracted to a knife and screwdrivers in someones pocket. Anyhoo, why let all the facts get in the way of a cop-bashing story.”
by Eden8
Monday, September 17 2012, 1:56PM
“This kind of misuse of Tazer, that can kill, as been the norm in America which as now a acknowledged militarized police state where police get an way with literally murder...
What occurs in the US follows in the UK...”
by areweallmad
Sunday, September 16 2012, 10:38PM
“What on earth are city centre rangers?
I wonder who invented another tier of thuggery.”
by Dan01
Sunday, September 16 2012, 3:49PM
“Yes a very sad case of police over reacting. They are so scarce on the ground these days chances are we wouldn't find one if we were really being threatened by someone. Its a case of picking low hanging fruit, - its so much easier.”
by abertawejack
Sunday, September 16 2012, 3:38PM
“Talk about sledge hammers to crack a nut, beggars belief at times aren't the police taught to "communicate" prior to overzealous actions. Thank god their NOT given "ca rte Blanche" in use of their weapons. Hope you've moved on Chris as obviously you've been turned into a Police victim, forgive them for they know not what they do. (at times)”