A 95-year-old great-grandmother, Clare Nowland, passed away peacefully in the hospital after being tasered by an Australian police officer inside her nursing home.
The officer has been charged with three counts of assault and is suspended with pay pending court proceedings on July 5.
Police were called to the nursing home after reports of Nowland being “armed with a knife,” where she was asked to drop the weapon before moving slowly toward the officers.
The use of a Taser, in this situation, sparked community outrage and calls for police reform, with critics arguing that kind words and assistance were needed due to Nowland’s dementia.
State lawmaker Sue Higginson, of the Greens party, emphasized the need for transparency and is releasing bodycam footage to understand what happened.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with authorities acknowledging it as a critical incident.
The case highlights the need for reform and better handling of situations involving the elderly and those with cognitive impairments.
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