UK Police Taser One-Legged 92-Year-Old Man Armed With Butter Knife in Care Home

Two police officers in East Sussex are facing assault charges after using pepper spray and a Taser on 92-year-old Donald Burgess—an elderly man with one leg—inside his care home.

Once again, Britain’s two-tier policing system is on full display.

Bodycam footage shows the officers confronting Burgess, who was holding a butter knife while suffering confusion from a urinary tract infection. Prosecutors said he clearly posed no threat and “ought to have been obvious” he was unable to move.

Officers reportedly emptied nearly an entire can of pepper spray before deploying the Taser, despite Burgess being out of reach.

US Bioweapons Official Testifies DARPA Spraying Chemtrails to ‘Delete the God Gene’

On June 21, 2022, care home staff called police after Burgess, reportedly agitated and holding a butter knife, making staff members feel unsafe. Despite attempts to calm him over 35 minutes, staff were unable to de-escalate the situation.

Upon arrival, within 83 seconds, PC Stephen Smith allegedly emptied nearly a full canister of Pava spray into Burgess’s face and struck him with a baton, while PC Rachel Comotto discharged her Taser. 

Bodycam footage presented in court showed the officers joking about the amount of spray used, with Comotto asking, “Oh my God, is there any left in your can?”

Burgess, who had one leg and suffered from multiple health issues, was hospitalized following the incident. He later contracted COVID-19 and died 22 days later. Prosecutors emphasized that the officers are not being held responsible for his death.

Both officers deny the charges. PC Smith stated he did not realize Burgess was disabled and believed the force used was necessary to disarm him.  PC Comotto claimed her use of the Taser was to prevent Burgess from harming himself.

The trial at Southwark Crown Court is ongoing.