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Police use Taser on blind man after stick mistaken for sword
BBC ^ | 17 October 2012 Last updated at 12:51 GMT | BBC

Posted on 10/17/2012 11:24:51 AM PDT by Eurotwit

A police force has apologised after an officer used a Taser on a blind man whose white stick was mistaken for a sword.

Colin Farmer, 61, was stunned by police following reports of a man walking through Chorley with a samurai sword.

Ch Supt Stuart Williams, of Lancashire Police, said the force had "deep regrets" and had "clearly put this man through a traumatic experience".

Mr Farmer was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged.

"It felt like I was grabbing an electricity pylon," he said.

Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes, said he thought he was being attacked by thugs.

He was walking to a pub to meet friends on Friday when the officer fired the Taser. It forced him to drop his stick and he fell to the ground, he said.

He said the experience had left him "shaking like a leaf" and scared to go outside.

(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: donutwatch

1 posted on 10/17/2012 11:24:54 AM PDT by Eurotwit
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To: Eurotwit

Poor guy — he never saw it coming.


2 posted on 10/17/2012 11:29:02 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Global Warming is a religion, and I don't want to be taxed to pay for a faith that is not mine.)
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To: Eurotwit

WHat kind of idiots are they to make THAT kind of mistake???????..........


3 posted on 10/17/2012 11:29:59 AM PDT by Red Badger (Is it just me, or is Hillary! starting to look like Benjamin Franklin?.................)
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To: Eurotwit

The Brits are totally hoplophobic, beyond all reason.


4 posted on 10/17/2012 11:36:34 AM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, a Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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To: Red Badger
Maybe they had him mixed up with this guy.


5 posted on 10/17/2012 11:37:02 AM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: Eurotwit

“Mr Farmer, who has suffered two strokes, said he thought he was being attacked by thugs.”

Even a blind man could see that clearly - he was correct in his judgment.


6 posted on 10/17/2012 11:40:18 AM PDT by headsonpikes (Mass murder and cannibalism are the twin sacraments of socialism - "Who-whom?"-Lenin)
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To: Eurotwit

Should not give tazers to blind cops.


7 posted on 10/17/2012 11:56:50 AM PDT by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: Eurotwit
Maybe the cops thought they were dealing with Zatoichi. Of course, if it had been Zatoichi, a mere taser or two wouldn't stop him.
8 posted on 10/17/2012 11:57:36 AM PDT by PUGACHEV
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To: Eurotwit

Who the hell would carry around a sword in a threatening manner? What is this, the Middle Ages???


9 posted on 10/17/2012 12:02:31 PM PDT by ObozoMustGo2012
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

From the end of the story:

“A man carrying a samurai sword was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.”

o.O


10 posted on 10/17/2012 12:13:00 PM PDT by Eurotwit ("Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.")
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To: headsonpikes

Only a thug would think it acceptable to tase a blind man.


11 posted on 10/17/2012 12:42:21 PM PDT by Altariel ("Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal!")
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To: Eurotwit

Did the cops shoot his seeing eye dog?


12 posted on 10/17/2012 1:06:10 PM PDT by Chief901 (Obama Septic Tank Campaign Ads, full of sh!t and smell like crap)
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To: ObozoMustGo2012

Never been to Glasgow have you?.

They use the samurai sword there as a weapon in gang fights.


13 posted on 10/17/2012 3:20:50 PM PDT by the scotsman (i)
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