Blind stroke victim shot in the back with 50,000-volt taser by police who mistook his white stick

Daily Mail ^ | 10/16/12 | Kerry Mcdermott

[Nachum]

A police force has apologised to a blind grandfather who was shot in the back with a 50,000-volt taser stun gun after officers mistook his white stick for a samurai sword.

Two-time stroke-victim Colin Farmer, 61, said he thought he was being attacked by muggers when he was hit with the weapon by the officer, who then handcuffed the retired company director as he fell to the ground.

Officers had been dispatched to Chorley, Lancashire - where Mr Farmer had been on his way to meet friends for a drink in a local restaurant - following reports of a man armed with a sword roaming around the town centre.

[Nachum]

Full title: Blind stroke victim shot in the back with 50,000-volt taser by police who mistook his white stick for a SAMURAI sword

Who knew Candy Crowley works in Britain?

[gov_bean_ counter]

Looks like the wrong da** person had the stick. Idiot.

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

A lot of this going around...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2946199/posts

[DManA]

I wonder if that title is a misprint. This would make more sense:

Stroke victim shot in the back with 50,000-volt taser by blind police who mistook his white stick, for a SAMURAI sword.

[Darksheare]

The cop is more blind than the guy with the white stick.

It’s a “Hey, he’s got a light saber/ samurai sword/ pointy stick!” Ping

[UCANSEE2]

So... if you’re having a stroke, wouldn’t getting shocked be just what was needed ?

He’s still alive isn’t he ?

[UCANSEE2]

Here's his picture.

[Uncle Chip]

He was an electrician and in retirement he gets tasered.

[USMCPOP]

What would they do if they were attacked with a banana?

[Jonah Hex]

He was a blind masseuse?

(Zatoichi bump)

[I want the USA back]

An apology? Yes, and 10 million pounds.

[NRA1995]

In the words of Eddie Murphy in 48 Hours: “You’re too f*ckin’ stupid to have a job!”

[Defiant]

Good thing he didn’t have a seeing eye dog, that would have been shot for sure.

[SaraJohnson]

No pet to shoot? Those British cops are behind the global times.

[Altariel]

Oh, yes, because most wielders of Samurai swords use them to guide them as they walk.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I actually don’t blame the British cop for being a bit trigger happy here. Against a samurai sword wielded by somebody who knows what they are doing, a handgun is barely enough. A Taser might be near worse than useless.

So your best bet is to sneak up behind the swordsman and try to zap him a good one. Now if you had a real gun, you could stand off and challenge.

[headsonpikes]

“Good thing he didn’t have a seeing eye dog, that would have been shot for sure.”

This is England - the dog would be spared!

[Defiant]

If it’s England, how is it the death panels have not finished the old blind guy off yet? At least they gave him a stick.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I have all 26 Zatoichi movies.