This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/oct/17/police-taser-blind-man-stick

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police Taser blind man mistaking his white stick for a samurai sword Police Taser blind man mistaking his white stick for a samurai sword
(about 11 hours later)
An innocent blind man with a white stick has been shot in the back by police with a 50,000-volt Taser after officers mistook it for a samurai sword. An innocent blind man was shot in the back with a 50,000-volt Taser by police after they mistook his white stick for a samurai sword.
Colin Farmer, 61, was hit following reports of a man walking through Chorley, Lancashire, early on Friday evening, with a sword. He said that he initially thought he was being attacked by hooligans when he was struck by the Taser. Colin Farmer, 61, was hit after reports of a man walking through Chorley, Lancashire, early on Friday evening, with a sword. He said he initially thought he was being attacked by hooligans when he was struck by the Taser.
The matter is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after Farmer, who has said he intends to take legal action, made a complaint to the force. The matter is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after Farmer made a complaint to the force.
Farmer, who used to run an architects' practice and is a fellow of the Institute of Directors, was on his way to meet friends at 5.45pm and was walking along Peter Street near a restaurant. "I didn't even know the police were there," he said. "I heard this man shouting. I thought they were shouting at some people." Farmer, who used to run an architects' practice, was on his way to meet friends at 5.45pm and was walking in Peter Street near a restaurant. "I was just walking along and I heard some men shouting really angrily and thought I'm going to get mugged. I didn't know any police were here.
"The Taser hit me in the back and it started sending all these thousands of volts through me and I was terrified. I mean I had two strokes already caused by stress. I dropped the stick involuntarily and I collapsed on the floor face down."
He added: "I was shaking and I thought 'I'm going to have another stroke any second and this one is going to kill me. I'm being killed. I'm being killed'."
Farmer, who has suffered two strokes, the most recent requiring two months in hospital in March, was fearful he would suffer another stroke.Farmer, who has suffered two strokes, the most recent requiring two months in hospital in March, was fearful he would suffer another stroke.
He said the whole thing was like being "trapped in a nightmare": "I thought I was going to be attacked by hooligans. The next thing they fired a Taser at me, although I didn't know it was a Taser at the time. I just felt a thump in my back. As soon as the Taser hit me, I hit the ground." "I walk at a snail's pace. They could have walked past me, driven past me in a van or said 'drop your weapon'."
He repeatedly attempted to explain to the officer that he was blind, but he knelt on him and dragged his hands behind his back and handcuffed him. Farmer, who has bruises on his hand, said he was "absolutely terrified." Lancashire Police apologised to Farmer for the "traumatic experience" but confirmed last night that the officer who fired the Taser has not been suspended and remains on duty.
"I walk at a snail's pace, they could have walked past me, driven past me in a van or said: 'Drop your weapon.'" Chief superintendent Stuart Williams, from Lancashire Police, said: "We received a number of reports that a man was walking through Chorley with a Samurai sword and patrols were sent to look for him.
The matter was referred to the IPCC by the Lancashire force. "One of the officers believed he had located the offender. Despite asking the man to stop, he failed to do so and the officer discharged his Taser.
Ch Supt Stuart Williams, of Lancashire police, said the force deeply regretted the incident. "It then became apparent this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away.
Farmer was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged. Williams said the officers stayed with him in hospital and took him to meet his friends in Chorley at his request. "He was taken to Chorley Hospital by officers who stayed while he was checked over by medics. They then took him to meet his friends in Chorley at his request.
Williams said police had "received a number of reports that a man was walking through Chorley armed with a samurai sword". "Lancashire Constabulary deeply regrets what has happened. We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry.
"A description of the offender was circulated to officers and patrols were sent to look for the man," he said. "One of the officers who arrived in Chorley believed he had located the offender. Despite asking the man to stop, he failed to do so and the officer discharged his Taser." "We have launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons can be learned and the matter has been referred to the IPCC."
Williams said it "became apparent that this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away", taking him to hospital. Farmer says he is taking legal action against the force and wants the officer involved charged with assault.
He added that the force has launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons could be learned.
"We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry for that," he said. They have remained in contact with the man and his family over the past few days to enquire about his recovery, he added.
A 27-year-old man carrying a samurai sword was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.A 27-year-old man carrying a samurai sword was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.