An investigation has been opened into two British police officers who tasered their own force’s black race relations advisor in the face after mistaking him for a suspected criminal.
Judah Adunbi, a 63-year-old grandfather who works to improve relations between the police and ethnic minorities in the city of Bristol was tasered outside his home after being approached by a female and male officer.
The disturbing incident was captured on video by a neighbor. It showed the two police officers walking up to Mr Adunbi in the street and asking him for his name.
Adunbi refuses, saying: “I’m not giving you my name. I’ve done no wrong.”
The officers then follow and manhandle him as he tries to get through the gates of his house, despite a neighbor telling them to leave him alone:
“He’s going to his house. He’s one of my neighbors. I see him everyday, walking his dogs he’s a lovely bloke,” he can be heard saying in the video.
Following a scuffle, one of the two officers shouts “Taser” and shoots the electric gun at the black man’s face.
The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which is investigating.
A stunned Adunbi has since spoken about the altercation, saying he felt “humiliated”and thought he was going to die when he was hit by the taser:
I felt that was it because of the way I fell back,” he said. “The way I fell backward on the back of my head. I was just paralysed. I thought that was it. I thought they were taking my life
Adunbi, a prominent member of Bristol’s black community who helped found the local Independent Advisory Group to police – called the incident a “racist attack.”
He claims something similar happened in 2007, when police mistook him for a wanted man.
“The first time round it could have been an accident – but a second time, that’s a racist attack. I’m happy to say that. I know it was the case” he told the Bristol Post.
The video has caused controversy in Bristol ‘s diverse Easton community and on social media about what constitutes an appropriate use of force.
Many people commenting on the incident online expressed shock and outrage at officers’ conduct.
One said: “Bear in mind this is apparently the second time the police have attacked this man thinking he was somebody else, the first time left him with a lifelong injury, so no, if he has no legal obligation to co-operate with the police, I don’t blame him for not playing ball”
“His ‘crime’ of not being cooperative pales next to their crime of Tasering an innocent old man in the face” she added.
But others defended the officers, saying Mr Adunbi should have been more co-operative.
“The police officers’ actions were correct,” said one commenter.
“They believed he was a wanted man, they asked him for his name, he refused to tell them and tried to leave the scene. He resisted their attempt to stop him and displayed violent and threatening behaviour. As a member of the public it is reassuring to know there are still officers around who are prepared to step up to the mark.”