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Former soldier dies after being shot with Taser by police in south Wales
South Wales Taser death: former soldier's family speaks of distress
(about 3 hours later)
A former soldier has died after being hit with a Taser by police officers who had been called to deal with an incident in Llanelli, south Wales.
The family of a former soldier with post-traumatic stress disorder who died after a Taser was discharged at him by police have expressed distress at his violent death.
The man has been identified locally as Spencer Beynon, who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following tours of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Spencer Beynon, 43, who was said to have been scarred by his experiences during tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident in Llanelli, south Wales.
Details are scant, but police watchdog the IPCC has launched an inquiry into the man’s death, which happened on Tuesday evening.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation while Dyfed-Powys police has begun a parallel criminal inquiry into a disturbance that led to Beynon suffering injuries before officers arrived.
An IPCC spokesman said: “Independent Police Complaints Commission investigators have been deployed to an incident in Llanelli in which a man has died following contact with police.
“Dyfed-Powys police officers were called out by a member of the public who was concerned about the behaviour and welfare of a man who appeared to be injured.
“Officers attended and during engagement with the man it is understood a Taser was discharged. The man became unresponsive and was subsequently pronounced dead. The IPCC has begun an independent investigation.”
Witnesses said they saw Beynon acting strangely. Halder Monteiro said: “I was in the house and I could hear lots of shouting and at first I just thought it was kids messing around.
“I then went out to see what was going on and I could see a guy in the street who looked totally out of it. He didn’t seem himself – as if he wasn’t there. He just had this look in his eyes. You could tell he wasn’t acting rationally.
“He then started hitting his head against a window several times and looked to be holding a dog in his arms. After police used the Taser he fell to the floor and the dog he was carrying was crawling on its back legs. It looked injured.”
Others said they had seen Beynon stab himself and the dog with a kitchen knife. It is thought Beynon was in the area visiting a friend.
A police spokeswoman said: “A full investigation has commenced, and Dyfed-Powys police referred the matter to the IPCC, who will now conduct an independent investigation. We are fully cooperating with them. Our thoughts are with the family of the man.”
Tributes paid to Llanelli man who died following 'incident' involving Taser https://t.co/YIDXZnc1rl pic.twitter.com/A2eg9fNQfu
Tributes paid to Llanelli man who died following 'incident' involving Taser https://t.co/YIDXZnc1rl pic.twitter.com/A2eg9fNQfu
Beynon’s niece Georgia said: “My uncle was a truly amazing man. Absolutely everyone loved him and I know he is going to be missed by so many.
Paying tribute to Beynon, his sister Esther, said: “Our hearts are ripped in pieces and our lives will never be the same again, my baby bro and the man I loved more than anything has left my life and there was nothing I could do to help him.”
“No one will ever understand how much he has been through, but he is in a safe, happy place now. The whole family are distraught, but we will get through this.”
Beynon’s niece Georgia said: “My uncle was a truly amazing man. Absolutely everyone loved him and I know he is going to be missed by so many. No one will ever understand how much he has been through. The whole family are distraught.”
Tom Nasmyth-Shaw, a long-time friend of Beynon, said he was devastated. He said: “We have known Spencer for years and he has been an amazing friend to us, he was a brilliant, brilliant guy to me through my charity work. I just can’t believe it. It’s shocking.
The case will again focus attention on the use of Tasers, especially on people with mental health problems.
“He had served in the army all around the world – I think the whole town was incredibly proud of him. Spencer was massively for the community and he would do anything to help anyone. I think he will be best remembered for his loyalty – it was everything to him.”
Deborah Coles, director of the group Inquest, which supports families of people who have lost relatives in incidents involving the police, said: “This is a disturbing death that needs robust investigation and provides his family with answers. The use of Tasers on vulnerable people is a matter of significant public concern that has been linked to previous deaths. With ever increasing police reliance on Tasers, there must be questions about whether its use is appropriate and reasonable.”
In July 2015 Beynon decided to put together a group to patrol the parks to ensure children were going home at a reasonable and safe hour during the long end-of-term holiday.
Some witnesses have claimed that Beynon had a knife and stabbed himself and his dog before police arrived. But the Dyfed-Powys investigation suggests other people may also have been involved in a violent incident.
Cllr Robert Davies said: “It is very sad. He was a nice guy, always had time to say hello, very pleasant. He was always with his dog.
The IPCC said Dyfed-Powys officers were called to a street in Llanelli at around 7.30pm on Tuesday following several calls from members of the public reporting a disturbance.
“I think he found it hard coming out of the army. So many of our soldiers who serve their country are forgotten about.
It said: “Police arrived to find a man in the street in a distressed state. During the incident, a Taser was discharged. The man became unresponsive and an ambulance was called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.”
“He was a very fit young man. I would see him going to the gym or out on his bike, but he would always wave and say hello.”
A postmortem is expected to be carried out on Thursday and IPCC investigators have started viewing CCTV footage and speaking to the officers involved.
Another friend, Callum Evans, said he had met him for a coffee at his home on Monday. He said: “There was no inkling of anything going on, he was his bubbly, normal self. He was a legend, a real top guy and a well-liked character. He was unique, a one-in-a-million type of guy.”
Witnesses said they saw Beynon acting strangely. Halder Monteiro said: “I could hear lots of shouting … I could see a guy in the street who looked totally out of it. He just had this look in his eyes.
In 2014 Beynon admitted growing cannabis plants in his garage. At the time his solicitor, Laura Sherwood, said: “This gentleman suffers greatly, and when I say greatly, I don’t take that word lightly.
“He then started hitting his head against a window several times and looked to be holding a dog in his arms. After police used the Taser, he fell to the floor.”
“I know there are people who come before the court saying that they suffer with post-traumatic stress disorder, but he suffers with this in everyday life. He says it is the only way to cope. This has come as a result of 15 years in the army and five operations.”
A friend, Callum Evans, said he had met Beynon for coffee on Monday. He said: “There was no inkling of anything going on, he was his bubbly, normal self.”
Two rapid response vehicles and an ambulance were called to the scene at 7.35pm on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Welsh ambulance service said.
Last year, Beynon put together a group to patrol the parks to ensure children were going home at a reasonable hour during the summer holiday.
The Labour assembly member for Llanelli, Lee Waters, tweeted:
In 2014, Beynon admitted growing cannabis plants in his garage. At the time, his solicitor, Laura Sherwood, said he had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and smoking helped.
Concerened by reports a man has died after being shot by police with Taser in #Llanelli Glad IPCC are investigating https://t.co/xnA3geaYxE
A report from the IPCC in 2014 revealed that Dyfed-Powys police – together with the City of London force – reported the lowest use of Tasers, with two uses per 100 officers in 2013. Staffordshire had the highest level, with 33 uses per 100 officers. “Uses” included instances when the device was drawn but not discharged.
A report from the IPCC in 2014 revealed that Dyfed-Powys police – together with the City of London force – reported the lowest use of Tasers, with two uses per 100 officers in 2013. Staffordshire had the highest level, with 33 uses per 100 officers. “Uses” included instances when the device was drawn but not discharged.
The use of Tasers continues to be monitored carefully by the IPCC.
The report raised concerns about the use of Tasers on people who are particularly vulnerable, such as those with mental health concerns or young people.
In the 2014 report it acknowledged that Tasers could be a valuable tool in helping police officers manage difficult and challenging situations.
The Labour assembly member for Llanelli, Lee Waters, tweeted: “Concerned by reports a man has died after being shot by police with Taser in #Llanelli Glad IPCC are investigating.
But the report added: “With more officers now equipped with Tasers and with the number of complaints rising in line with the increased use, the IPCC recommends that local forces should guard against the possibility that it is being overused.
Concerened by reports a man has died after being shot by police with Taser in #Llanelli Glad IPCC are investigating https://t.co/xnA3geaYxE
“For example, the IPCC’s analysis of Home Office data shows considerable disparity in Taser use between forces, with some smaller forces having a proportionately much higher rate of Taser use in relation to their size. There is no obvious explanation for this, and the IPCC will further explore this with police forces.”
The report also raised concerns about the use of Tasers on people in police custody and on those who are particularly vulnerable, such as those with mental health concerns or young people. It also highlighted concerns when the device is used in drive-stun mode – applied directly to the body rather than fired from a distance.
It is not yet known how the Taser was used in the Llanelli incident.
Government figures published last year revealed police used Tasers 10,062 times in 2014, a decrease of 3% (318) compared with 2013. Non-discharges accounted for 8,081 uses.
There have been a few high-profile deaths of people following Taser use.
Last year an inquest jury found that a Taser fired by a police officer was the most likely cause of a fire that engulfed and killed a man in Plymouth. Andrew Pimlott, 32, had poured petrol over himself and was holding a lit match when he was hit in the back garden of his parents’ house.
