The way police deploy weapons such as Tasers is under intense scrutiny after 95-year-old great grandmother Clare Nowland was incapacitated by one at her aged care facility, as her condition continues to worsen.
In 2012 – more than a decade ago – Brazilian student Roberto Curti died in Sydney’s CBD after he was Tasered 14 times by police when he stole biscuits during an LSD-induced psychosis.
Police chased him down and shot multiple probes of up to 50,000 volts into the young man’s body.
He spent his final moments in agony on Pitt St in Sydney’s CBD, prompting an inquiry into how police use the devices.
Following his death protocols were tightened and NSW Police officers were told not to deploy them on the elderly, the disabled or anyone who was lightweight or at risk of serious injury if they fell.
Yet on Wednesday, a senior constable fired a Taser at Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old great-grandmother and dementia sufferer, leaving her clinging to life.
The use of Tasers has come under question after 95-year-old grandmother Clare Nowland’s was allegedly Tasered by a NSW police officer on Wednesday morning (pictured: Clare Nowland)
An enquiry into Taser use in NSW began after Brazilian student Roberto Curti died (pictured) after being Tasered 14 times by police when he stole biscuits during an LSD-induced psychosis
The dementia sufferer was Tasered by the officer at 4am on Wednesday as she slowly approached a team of officers ‘armed’ with a steak knife at the Yallambee Lodge aged care facility near Cooma, in the NSW Snowy Mountains.
The threat she posed was questioned by Emma Ryan, a Deakin University criminologist who studies Taser use, as the elderly woman needed a walking frame to walk.
She told the Sydney Morning Herald it is ‘probably the worst’ Taser case she has seen in Australia.
‘It’s very well known that you don’t Taser frail, elderly or small-statured people, or people with potential heart conditions,’ Ms Ryan said.
‘So for the life of me, I can’t understand how the officers came to the conclusion that the Taser was the best solution.’
A family friend of Mrs Nowland says her condition continues to worsen.
The great-grandmother is now receiving end-of-life care in Cooma District Hospital surrounded by her distraught family.
‘Her breathing has been getting shallower, but she’s still with us,’ family friend and community advocate Andrew Thaler told AAP on Saturday.
Following Mr Curti’s death NSW Police officers were told not to use Taser on the elderly, disabled, those who are lightweight or could be seriously injured from a fall
On Wednesday police were called to the nursing home (pictured) after being told Mrs Nowland had a kitchen knife. She was tasered while standing next to her walking frame
Sombre NSW assistant police commissioner Peter Cotter said the officer was a 12-year veteran of the Force and has been stood down
Staff from the Yallambee Lodge nursing home called the police after Mrs Nowland, who has dementia, is 43kg and uses a walking frame, took a serrated steak knife from the kitchen into a small treatment room.
At a press conference on Friday, Assistant Commissioner Peter Cotter confirmed the Taser was fired once and that Ms Nowland had hit her head after falling to the ground.
The officer in question has been stood down while an investigation is underway.
Asst Comm Cotter said the highest level of investigation had been launched by the NSW Homicide Squad.
He suggested Ms Nowland’s case is being treated as if she could soon be dead. A family representative told Daily Mail Australia she was receiving end of life care.
Mr Cotter said he had viewed the bodycam footage of the incident and admitted it was ‘confronting footage’ – but officers are refusing to release it.
He revealed the officer who Tasered Ms Nowland was a 12-year veteran of the Force. Mr Cotter has been temporarily stood down while the incident is investigated.
He did not say when the officer will return.
Greens justice spokesman David Shoebridge criticised the handling of the incident and said the bodycam vision of the Tasering should be released if Ms Nowland’s family consented to it (pictured: Taser stock image)
‘If we are hurt or we hurt someone during the course of our duties we are always on the front foot to put out a statement,’ Mr Cotter said.
‘I cannot say whether or not this officer .. will face criminal charges. ‘We have to be very sure before we put out all the specific details.’
Greens justice spokesman David Shoebridge criticised the handling of the incident and said the bodycam vision should be released if Ms Nowland’s family consented to it.
‘There needs to be an urgent and public review of this incident by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) that includes, after consultation with the family, the release of the video from the Taser,’ he said.
‘Tasers are a potentially deadly weapon and need to be treated as such, but when the system sends in police that’s too often what they reach for.
‘The structural failing here is dispatching police to the incident when an emergency mental health team should have been available to de-escalate and treat an older woman in distress.’
Mr Cotter said Ms Nowland had taken the serrated steak knife from the nursing home kitchen while wandering around the facility for a couple of hours.
‘She was approaching police but it is fair to say at a slow pace, she had a walking frame but she had a knife.’ he said.
He said she had been given clear instructions to drop the knife by police and had ‘approached the doorway’ of a small ‘medical treatment room’ when an experienced male police officer Tasered her.
She was alone when the Tasering occurred.
Mrs Nowland’s family is gathered around her in the expectation that she does not have long to live.
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