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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Police Taser blind man mistaking his white stick for a samurai sword | Police Taser blind man mistaking his white stick for a samurai sword |
| (6 months later) | |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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, 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. | 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." | "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'." | 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. |
| "I walk at a snail's pace. They could have walked past me, driven past me in a van or said 'drop your weapon'." | "I walk at a snail's pace. They could have walked past me, driven past me in a van or said 'drop your weapon'." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "It then became apparent this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away. | "It then became apparent this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away. |
| "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. | "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. |
| "Lancashire Constabulary deeply regrets what has happened. We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry. | "Lancashire Constabulary deeply regrets what has happened. We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry. |
| "We have launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons can be learned and the matter has been referred to the IPCC." | "We have launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons can be learned and the matter has been referred to the IPCC." |
| Farmer says he is taking legal action against the force and wants the officer involved charged with assault. | Farmer says he is taking legal action against the force and wants the officer involved charged with assault. |
| 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. |
| -A correction was made to the standfirst on 18 October 2012. "IPPC" was changed to "IPCC". | -A correction was made to the standfirst on 18 October 2012. "IPPC" was changed to "IPCC". |
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