Dalian Atkinson: Police kill threatening unarmed black man with a Taser
Former Aston Villa footballer Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot by a police taser. West Mercia Police tell us:
West Mercia Police can confirm that officers responded to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual at approximately 1.30am this morning at an address in Telford. Upon arrival, taser was deployed and a 48-year-old man, who subsequently received medical attention, was pronounced dead at approximately 3am.
Tasers are safe, right?
West Mercia Police are unable to comment any further as the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as is normal procedure, and will assist the IPCC with their inquiries.
Dalian Atkinson celebrates a goal
Why did the police shoot? The BBC says:
A neighbour described seeing the former Aston Villa star, 48, being Tasered after “stumbling towards” police.
The Mirror says: “Ex-Aston Villa footballer ‘approached police in non-threatening manner’.” Well, so says a source. The police have not commented.
We hear from Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench. She tells the BBC:
“They were shouting and kicking so much all I could hear were the boots hitting him. And then the officer who released the Taser stepped back while the other officer still continued to kick and then I could hear him shout to the other officer that was still kicking, ‘Back off, back off, back off.’ And then the officer with the Taser asked the gentleman to put his hands behind his back and did so probably two or three times and reactivated the Taser another four or five times after that.”
Quinn has also spoken to her local newspaper, Before hearing from her again, we hear from Dalian Atkinson’s father:
“He was in a real state. He was very agitated and his mind was upset. The last thing he said to me was ‘don’t move’ when the police came to the door. He was threatening and very upset. I didn’t call the police but someone else did. He got tasered in the street outside in the road. I didn’t see him but I saw a flash. I haven’t had any sleep and cannot take it in.”
The Sun has more:
‘MY BOY IS DEAD’ Dalian Atkinson’s dad’s anguished cries as he revealed his son turned up at his home ‘drunk’ before being Tasered to death by police
Adding:
Ernest, 85, said is son was ‘in a real state’ before he was zapped with stun gun and ‘repeatedly kicked’ by officers
Lots of bold claims in inverted commas point to one thing: uncertainty. The Sun keeps going:
PREM ACE TASER DEATH Former Aston Villa striker Dalian Atkinson was ‘Tasered six times and kicked by cops’ before he died
We hear more:
The Indy adds a race angle:
Deborah Coles, director of Inquest, a charity that supports families bereaved by deaths in custody, said there will be particular concern over the latest incident because Mr Atkinson was black.
Oh?
“There’s a lot of disquiet over the disproportionate number of people from BME (black and minority ethnic) communities who are dying at the hands of the police. This will understandably raise questions about whether the use of the Taser was proportionate in the circumstances.”
Much more to follow.
Posted: 15th, August 2016 | In: Reviews Comments (3) | TrackBack | Permalink
