Sussex Police Officers Cleared of Assault After Tasering 92-Year-Old Care Home Resident

Two Sussex Police officers, PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Comotto, were acquitted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm following their use of PAVA spray, a Taser, and a baton against 92-year-old Donald Burgess, a disabled care home resident who later died in hospital. The incident, which occurred in June 2022 at a care home in East Sussex, involved Mr. Burgess threatening staff with a kitchen knife while in a delirious state caused by a urinary tract infection. The officers' actions were found not to have caused or contributed to his death, which occurred three weeks later due to complications including COVID-19. Despite the jury clearing the officers of criminal charges, the Independent Office for Police Conduct referred the case for potential gross misconduct hearings regarding use of force and professional behavior. Prosecutors argued the force was excessive and unnecessary, while defense experts stated the officers' response was consistent with their perception of the threat. The case highlights tensions between law enforcement's duty to manage threats and the vulnerabilities of elderly, disabled individuals in care settings.