Appeal after PC Tasered Chorley blind man (From Chorley Citizen)

Appeal after PC Tasered Chorley blind man

5:30pm Friday 26th October 2012 in Chorley

THE Independent Police Complaints Commission is appealing for witnesses to an incident in which a police officer fired a 50,000 volt Taser at a blind man.

The incident happened on Friday, October 12, at 6.35pm, in Peter Street, Chorley.

Colin Farmer, 62, who has suffered two strokes and uses a white stick, was subjected to a Taser discharge by a police constable responding to a report of a man seen carrying a Samurai sword.

Following the incident, Mr Farmer was restrained and handcuffed.

He was then released and taken to hospital after the attending police officers realised he was not the suspect they were looking for.

The IPCC is independently investigating the incident following a referral by Lancashire Constabulary.

The commission said it is keen to speak with any witnesses who saw the incident. In particular, it hopes to trace a man and a woman who left the Parmesan and Pepper restaurant, in Peter Street, at the time of the incident.

Any witnesses should call 01924 811513, or email shaun.coleman@ipcc.gsi.gov. uk