(Photo: Google Images)
BBC is reporting former Premier League footballer Dalian Atkinson has died after being shot with a taser near his father’s home in the British town of Telford on Thursday. The writer identified as Shropshire reports:
“Police said the weapon was deployed at about 01:30 BST in Telford, Shropshire after officers were called to a report of concern for a man’s safety.
A neighbor described seeing the former Aston Villa star, 48, being Tasered after ‘stumbling towards’ police.
Mr Atkinson went into cardiac arrest on his way to hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 03:00.
Paula Quinn, who lives in a first-floor flat near the Atkinson property in Trench, said: ‘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. ‘
The death has been referred to the police watchdog, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).”
Atkinson’s nephew Fabian told reporters that the former soccer star was undergoing dialysis for kidney problems. Police have said the amount of force used against Atkinson is why the incident has been referred to the IPCC. IPCC is currently investigating four deaths after the use of a taser by police.
Read more at BBC.
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