Senior citizen Tasered by Australian Police
A 95-year-old woman with dementia is hospitalized with life-threatening head injuries after being tasered by police at her aged care home in Cooma, New South Wales, Australia. Police were called to the Yallambee Lodge after reports that the woman, Clare Nowland, was carrying a knife.
According to Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Cotter, Nowland was found armed with a steak knife in her room. Both the officers made attempts and care home staff to de-escalate the situation before the woman, who was using a walking frame, began approaching the police slowly.
In response, she was tasered. The New South Wales Police have initiated a critical incident investigation into the matter, treating it with the utmost seriousness. The officer involved will be interviewed as part of the investigation involving the homicide squad.
The incident has generated widespread outrage, with community groups, including the NSW Council for Civil Liberties and People with Disability Australia (PwD), criticizing the police response.
Family friend Andrew Thaler stated that the woman was tasered twice and suffered a fractured skull and serious brain bleed after falling. The family and the community are shocked and confused by the incident, questioning the level of force used. Advocacy groups argue that the situation called for compassionate handling and time rather than the use of Tasers.
