Police in Australia accused of using Taser on 95-year-old woman
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Loading... - Aharon Gamal
- 19 May 2023
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In a shocking incident at an Australian nursing home, the police utilized a stun gun on a 95-year-old woman who approached them with a walking frame and a steak knife. The woman, Clare Nowland, who suffers from dementia, was subsequently taken to the hospital, and her condition remains critical as of Friday. This incident has prompted a thorough internal investigation by the police, raising concerns about the use of stun guns, commonly known as Tasers, in the New South Wales state. While Tasers are considered a less lethal alternative to firearms, there have been instances where they have proven to be more dangerous than other policing methods.
Upon receiving a report that Nowland had taken a serrated steak knife from the nursing home's kitchen, two police officers were dispatched to Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, a facility specializing in the care of residents with higher needs, including dementia. Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter refrained from commenting on whether the officer, who possessed 12 years of experience, employed excessive force by deploying a stun gun against an elderly woman who stood at a height of 1.57 meters (5 foot 2 inches) and weighed 43 kilograms (95 pounds).
According to Cotter, the police engaged in negotiations with the elderly woman for several minutes, resorting to the use of the stun gun when she approached the doorway where they were positioned. Cotter stated that at the time of the incident, Nowland was moving towards the police, albeit at a slow pace, with the assistance of a walking frame. However, due to the presence of the knife, he refrained from speculating on the officers' thought process.
Nicole Lee, the president of People with Disability Australia, expressed shock at the level of violence exhibited in this case. Lee questioned whether Nowland possessed exceptional physical abilities to be considered an agile and intimidating threat, or if it was a case of poor judgment on the part of the police officers. She emphasized the need for accountability on their behalf.
The police clarified that Nowland's critical injuries resulted from her head striking the floor and not directly from the electric shock delivered by the Taser. Cotter described the footage captured by the body cameras worn by the two officers as disturbing, but due to an ongoing internal investigation, he stated that it would not be released in the public interest.
Regarding the officer who discharged the stun gun, Cotter mentioned that the officer is currently not on active duty, but it remains unclear whether they have been suspended from duty. Nowland, a great-grandmother, gained media attention in 2008 when she went skydiving to celebrate her 80th birthday.
