PC in ‘chill or I’ll choke you out’ probe named
OFFICER FACING MISCONDUCT CHARGES OVER INCIDENT LAST SUMMER
A WEST Yorkshire officer is facing police misconduct charges arising from an arrest in Halifax in which he is alleged to have said “chill out or I’ll choke you out”.
West Yorkshire Police has now named the officer involved, PC Graham Kanes, ahead of a misconduct hearing later this month.
PC Kanes will answer an allegation that the force he used to restrain the man in Spring Hall Lane, Halifax on August 16 last year was “not reasonable, necessary or proportionate.”
The second allegation relates to what he said during the arrest, according to West Yorkshire Police.
The Force outlined the three allegations ahead of the misconduct hearing.
One - The force used to restrain the male was not reasonable, necessary, or proportionate.
Two - By telling the male that the officer would “choke” him and “you’re going to sleep” were unprofessional and unreasonable in all the circumstances.
Three - The statement you provided describing that the male “punched” you was not an accurate or truthful account of what had happened.
The Force added: “The matter set out above is alleged to amount to gross misconduct and is so serious as to justify dismissal.”
The conduct, if proven, amounts to breaches of professional standards in relation to authority, respect and courtesy; use of force; duties and responsibilities; discreditable conduct, and honesty and integrity.
West Yorkshire Police outlined the case ahead of a misconduct hearing due to take place on November 15 to 19.
The Force said: “On 16/08/2020 PC Kanes restrained and arrested a male after reportedly witnessing him strike a local resident in the face.
“It is alleged that PC Kanes had his arm around the male’s neck whilst restraining him.
“The officer is alleged to have said to the male being restrained “chill out or I’ll choke you out” and “chill out or you’re going to sleep”.
“The male being restrained states that they responded to this by saying “I can’t breathe” and “I give up, I give up.” In June it was revealed that the officer - who wasn’t named at the time will not face criminal prosecution.
The Crown Prosecution Service said it had concluded that there was “insufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offence.”
The arrested man, Hassan Ahmed, 27, from Halifax, told Yorkshire Live at the time that he feared he was going to die and couldn’t breathe.
He said: “I was being choked. I was thinking I was going to die. I was saying (to police) I can’t breathe. I said ‘I quit, I quit.’
“I was waving my hands and saying ‘I can’t breathe’ and I was tapping out. I had my hands in the air.”
I was being choked. I was thinking I was going to die.