In a recent case that has raised significant concerns regarding the treatment of vulnerable individuals, a 92-year-old man with disabilities has reportedly made threatening remarks towards care home staff and then faced a controversial response from law enforcement. This incident was presented in court at Southwark Crown, where the staff’s call for assistance unfolded in alarming detail.
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Donald Burgess, a single-leg amputee who relies on a wheelchair for mobility, allegedly communicated his desire to harm care workers, stating that he would find “great pleasure” in stabbing them. The situation escalated to the point where a 999 call was made to police, reflecting the severity of the atmosphere within the care facility.
Body-worn camera footage later revealed a rapid response by police officers Stephen Smith and Rachel Comotto, who entered Mr. Burgess’s room at Park Beck care home in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex. Within a mere 83 seconds, Mr. Burgess was subjected to synthetic pepper spray, baton strikes, and a Taser deployment.
The court heard the urgent call made by deputy care home manager Donna Gardner just prior to the alleged assault. “He’s threatening to stab staff and has stated that he wants to murder and it will give him a great deal of pleasure,” she explained in distress to the emergency operator. “He still has the knife. I’m concerned if we leave him on his own he’s going to hurt himself.”
Ms. Gardner revealed that the knife in question, which had a sharp, serrated edge, was originally provided to assist Mr. Burgess with self-feeding. “Going back a few years, we had a spell where he was threatening to hang himself, so I don’t want to take any chances with this gentleman,” she stated, emphasizing the complexity of managing his care.
Steve Cooper, the care home manager, testified that Mr. Burgess had exhibited aggression for over half an hour. “He was very aggressive and threatening to hurt my staff,” he stated. “We tried various de-escalation techniques, but he wasn’t responsive. I’ve never seen him like this before. He had a look in his eyes I’d never seen before—he wasn’t the Donald I knew.”
Cooper recounted a moment when Mr. Burgess allegedly jabbed the knife towards him, saying, “I’m going to murder you, and I’ll enjoy it.” In his witness statement, Mr. Cooper described Mr. Burgess’s appearance as “possessed,” a term he acknowledged as dramatic yet fitting under the circumstances.
When questioned about the decision to call the police, he expressed, “We tried all other options. It was 35 minutes of trying to calm the situation down before I had to make that unfortunate decision.”
Prosecutor Paul Jarvis KC asserted that the actions taken by the officers were “unjustified and unlawful,” contending that Mr. Burgess posed no immediate threat to anyone’s safety. Ms. Gardner echoed this sentiment during her emergency call, noting his limited mobility. “He is a wheelchair user, so for him to approach the residents would be difficult for him,” she acknowledged. “It’s unlikely he would approach another resident, but it’s quite likely they could approach him without realizing the danger.”
The trial continues as the legal evaluation of this incident unfolds, grappling with critical questions regarding appropriate responses to complex situations involving vulnerable individuals.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
