Police Officer cleared over use of force on unarmed Black suspect
APOLICE officer who punched an unarmed suspect did not commit misconduct, an investigation has found.
Witnesses expressed concerns about the way armed police arrested Harvey and Nathan Jackson in Ashley Street, St Werburgh’s.
The two brothers, both Black, were arrested on March 20. They were suspected of stealing two dogs from a woman’s home in a Bedminster Down robbery earlier that day.
Robbery charges were later dropped but the Jacksons both admitted having a knife in the Bedminster Down incident. They were jailed for a combined 21 months when they appeared at Bristol Crown Court on May 24.
One witness made a formal complaint to police over their “completely unnecessary use of force”. She claimed she saw an officer punch one of the suspects “about seven times in the head”.
Avon and Somerset police have completed an internal probe, concluding “the service level was acceptable” and no action will be taken against any officers.
The force’s report found a PC restraining one of the suspects used “punches to his head” in the arrest. These strikes “were jab like, rather than full blown punches and ceased once they had had the desired effect” of preventing criminal actions and injuries to officers.
Police have confirmed both suspects were both unarmed when arrested. Officers were aware the suspects had been armed earlier that day and had an “honestly held belief” they were in “immediate danger of harm”, according to the report.
The complaint was made by a woman passing by. She said: “Two men got out of the pursued car and were immediately surrounded by around seven armed police officers, with further backup arriving shortly after.”
She said both men were Tasered by the armed officers and were then “on the ground either side of the car”.
“I could only see what was happening to the man on the side nearest to Mina Road Park, where I was standing,” she added.
“He was on the ground with several
police officers restraining him.”
The force’s professional standards department gives a summary of the incident at the start of the report, saying both men had been ordered to get on the ground.
It adds: “[An officer] deployed his Taser, which had no apparent effect on one of the men and the other officers took him to the ground. He was restrained, which included the use of punches to his head by [another officer], and handcuffed. At the same time, [a third officer] also deployed his Taser on the man being detained on the other side of the car.
“[The witness] complains that the officers used unnecessary and excessive force upon both men in the use of Taser and strikes to one of the gentlemen’s heads.”
In its conclusion, the report says officers had not known whether the suspects were armed.
“The fact that they would not comply with their requests heightened their suspicions and their cause for concern,” it said.
The use of force was deemed “both reasonable and justified” given reports the men could have weapons, their refusal to comply and the officers’ “honestly held belief” they were in “immediate danger of harm”.
The witness who made the complaint has until June 23 to decide if she will apply for a review of the complaint. If she goes ahead, it would be considered by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Harvey Jackson, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to having a blade in Bedminster Down on March 20. He also admitted breaching a suspended prison sentence handed to him in February last year for dangerous driving.
Judge Julian Lambert jailed him for 18 months, including a six-month activation of the suspended sentence.
Nathan Jackson, 37, of Ashley Street, also admitted possession of a blade. He was jailed for three months.
An Avon and Somerset police spokeswoman said: “Body worn footage captured by officers at the scene was scrutinised as part of our enquiries.
“The investigation has now concluded and found our response to be proportionate to the threat level identified. No individual misconduct was found.”
❝ The fact that they would not comply with their requests heightened their suspicions Police report