British police caught on video Tasering former race relations adviser
Police in Bristol, UK Tasered a man who had been a member of their own race relations advisory group in a case of mistaken identity.
Judah Adunbi was outside his home on Saturday when two police officers approached him. In a video taken by a neighbour, police appeared to confuse Adunbi with a different man. Adunbi repeatedly refused to give his name to the police before trying to enter his home. The police officers tried to stop him before Tasering him.
A voice can be heard on the video telling the police that they have the wrong man, and that Adunbi is his neighbour.
Adunbi told the whole story to As It Happens guest host Helen Mann.
Helen Mann: Mr. Adunbi, tell us about that moment when you were Tasered. Do you remember anything about what happened as that Taser hit you?
Judah Adunbi: To be honest, all I was thinking about was 'This is it.' I went to the ground. I didn't have much awareness of what was happening. All I knew was I was paralyzed on the ground.
HM: You say you thought, 'That's it.' You mean you thought you really were going to die in that moment?
JA: Yeah. It's difficult to describe. I was thinking about my children and grandchildren at the same time.
As far as I'm concerned, they see I am a black individual walking down the street. And they just have a quick look and decide, OK, well, we'll find some excuse to go and torment that particular individual.- Judah Adunbi
HM: Your neighbour taped the whole interaction with police. Can you tell us a little about what was going on in the early part of that video? [And] why police were trying to question you?
JA: Well actually, this is kind of news to myself, because all I do know is that I was going home. As far as I'm concerned, they see I am a black individual walking down the street. And they just have a quick look and decide, OK, well, we'll find some excuse to go and torment that particular individual.
HM: They said they thought you were someone they were looking for. You don't believe that?
JA: Not one bit. This is not the first time this situation has happened. It has happened to me before. And I'm disappointed and surprised that it happened again.
HM: In the video, you refuse to give police your name. Why was that?
JA: Well first of all, I've given the police my name on multiple occasions previously. And then again, legally I'm not entitled to give my name to anyone, because I haven't committed a crime. I'm not in the process of committing a crime.
HM: In the video we see you go through a gate. Where were you headed?
JA: To my home, that's my house. That's the backyard to my home.
HM: And the police tried to follow you through there?
JA: Yes. Or they tried to force their way through, for whatever reason.
HM: You used to sit on Bristol's independent advisory group which was working with police to try and improve race relations. Given that experience you've had, what does it feel like to you to be treated like this by the force you were working with?
JA: In this country we have a system that we need to abide by. And 99 per cent of the time the system has been followed correctly. So for them to be out flouting the rules like that is something that we're in discussions with the constabulary to try and address for some time now. Hopefully this unfortunate situation will give them a kick in their backsides, so to speak, in order to address the injustice and inequality amongst the Afro-Caribbean community.
This transcript has been condensed and edited for clarity. To hear the full interview, click 'Listen.'