Cops Taser violent mental health patient

(CNS): A West Bay man was Tasered by police from the Uniform Support Group on Sunday night after he came at the armed cops with a machete. The 25-year-old man was shot, the police said, when he refused to put down his weapon and continued advancing on the officers at around 11:00pm (31 May) at a residence in Vibe Lane, West Bay. The USG officers were called to a disturbance and found the armed man who was behaving in a threatening manner, police said.

As he advanced towards the USG officers, despite their commands to drop the machete, he continued to swing the blade at the police before they fired Tasers at him. Police did not say how many officers fired but that the weapons were “deployed to subdue the accused after he continued his aggressive advances and non-compliance”.

After he was hit by the barb, which delivers an electric shock to its victims, the man was safely arrested without any serious injuries to himself or the officers and taken to the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town, where he was admitted under the care of a doctor in the Mental Health Unit.

Detective Superintendent Robert Scotland praised the “restraint, patience and professionalism exhibited by the armed officers” in using what he described as a less lethal option other than a firearm.

“Had this incident occurred in other jurisdictions, the results could have been much different,” Scotland stated, implyinging that if the officers used a regular gun, the man could be dead.

Although Taser guns are a less lethal option than a firearm, they can still be dangerous and several victims have died in other jurisdictions as a result of their deployment.

Two RCIPS officers are currently on desk duties after deploying a Taser on a suspect in East End following a high-speed car chase after they were charged with assault.