Two Sussex officers face disciplinary hearing over force used on 92-year-old in care home

In June 2022 police were dispatched to Park Beck Care Home in St Leonards-on-Sea because staff said a resident was threatening them with a dinner knife. PC Stephen Smith and PC Rachel Cometto entered the room, asked staff to leave, and then used pepper spray, a baton and a Taser on the 92-year-old, who was in a wheelchair and had one leg. After being handcuffed, Burgess was taken to a police station, where his condition quickly worsened; he was later transferred to hospital and died 22 days later after a cardiac arrest and a Covid infection.

At a disciplinary hearing the officers are accused of excessive force, escalating the situation and failing to treat the vulnerable man with compassion. Cometto is also alleged to have posted inappropriate comments about the incident on Facebook. If the panel finds the accusations proven, both could be dismissed from the force.