Man shot with Taser 11 times... and walks away

A KNIFEMAN was shot by police with Tasers 11 times – but walked away.

Joshua Hyde, 30, later said he only felt ‘pinching and stinging’ while being shot with the 50,000-volt stun guns.

Police had been called to Brent, north west London, after Hyde, who has paranoid schizophrenia, threatened a neighbour. When he ran out into the street armed with knives, police tasered him six times – but Hyde, who was wearing two jackets, was barely affected and walked off.

Officers then drove a car at the drug addict to stop him and tasered him another five times, still with little effect.

Eventually police shot him with a regular gun. Hyde survived and received a two-year suspended jail term for assault and possessing weapons.

An inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission ruled that officers used reasonable force as he posed a real danger to others. But the incident raised concerns about whether Tasers have shortcomings that could put police at risk. Hyde told the IPCC he heard an officer say ‘the Taser ain’t working’.

Cindy Butts, of the IPCC, said they believe his extra clothing made the Tasers less effective. Lucy D’Orsi, of the Metropolitan Police, admitted Tasers don’t always work. A new version of the device, licensed in March, is said to be more effective.