Police officers who Tasered and pepper-sprayed one-legged dementia sufferer, 92, in care home may have contributed to his death, inquest hears
An inquest heard that police officers may have contributed to the death of Donald Burgess, a 92-year-old care-home resident with dementia who used a wheelchair after losing a leg. Officers responding to reports that he would not put down a butter knife shouted at him, struck his arm with a baton, used pepper spray and then Tasered him within 83 seconds.
Burgess was arrested and taken to hospital, where he was treated for a urinary infection; after his care home refused to readmit him, he remained there awaiting another placement and contracted Covid-19. He suffered a cardiac arrest and died 22 days after the incident, with his family’s lawyer arguing that the force and resulting physiological stress may have contributed to his death alongside his existing conditions.
- Inquest examines whether police force contributed to a vulnerable pensioner’s death.
- Officers used a baton, pepper spray and Taser during an 83-second incident.
- He later contracted Covid-19 and died after 22 days in hospital.