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Police Taser race group founder in the face | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A founder of a group improving race relations with police has been Tasered in the face by officers who mistook him for a wanted man. | |
Footage filmed by a neighbour shows Judah Adunbi, 63, outside his Bristol home when he is stopped by police. | Footage filmed by a neighbour shows Judah Adunbi, 63, outside his Bristol home when he is stopped by police. |
Mr Adunbi refused to give his name and after a dispute was Tasered in the face by officers who tried to arrest him. | |
The incident, which Mr Adunbi said left him "scared for his life", has been referred to the police watchdog. | |
Mr Adunbi, the founding member of an independent group between the police and prominent members of the Afro-Caribbean community, said he was "terrified" by what happened. | |
"When the Taser hit me I thought it had killed me," he said. | |
'Not a criminal' | 'Not a criminal' |
A neighbour of Mr Adunbi filmed the incident, which took place outside his home in the Easton area of Bristol on 14 January. | |
The video shows the two officers approaching Mr Adunbi while returning from a walk with his dog. They give the name of the wanted man and ask if that is him. | |
When he says he is not that man, they ask for his name, which he declines to give. | |
Mr Adunbi says he refused because he is "not a criminal" and was "just going about my business". | Mr Adunbi says he refused because he is "not a criminal" and was "just going about my business". |
Officers tried to arrest him as he walked into his back garden and then Tasered him. | |
Mr Adunbi, who is no longer on the board of the race relations group, said what happened to him was "disgraceful". | |
He said: "[The police] claim they are looking for an individual...they know who the individual is so why go as far as accuse any back man in the street with dreadlocks." | |
He added race relations in the city were "getting worse" and called for the police and community groups to "sit down around the table and sort this out". | |
Ch Supt Jon Reilly said: "After reviewing what happened, we voluntarily referred a complaint about this incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). | Ch Supt Jon Reilly said: "After reviewing what happened, we voluntarily referred a complaint about this incident to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). |
He added he had met Mr Adunbi and had a "constructive conversation". | |
He said: "We're aware of concerns within the local community and we take these concerns very seriously." | |
An IPCC spokesperson said: "We are independently investigating a complaint about an incident in Easton on 14 January where a man was Tasered. | |
"The IPCC investigation follows a referral from Avon and Somerset Police and is in its early stages." | "The IPCC investigation follows a referral from Avon and Somerset Police and is in its early stages." |