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Blackburn man's night in cells after falling off settee laughing

8:06am Wednesday 11th June 2008

comment Comments (54)   Have your say »


A MAN ended up spending a night in the cells after a bizarre chain of events that started when he fell off his settee laughing.

Christopher Cocker, 36, was enjoying watching BBC1's Have I Got News For You when comedian and panelist on the show Paul Merton had him in stitches.

But, hearing the thud after he fell off the sofa, Cocker's neighbour in the flat below thought he may have fallen ill.

She alerted police, and officers were sent to Cocker's home in Maricourt Avenue, Intack, Blackburn.

But when they arrived Cocker - who was initially co-operate and relaxed' became aggressive after they asked to take his name.

Blackburn magistrates heard that Cocker tried to shut his front door but was Parva sprayed through the gap and an officer then came into his apartment.

Jonathan Taylor, defending, said: "The officer accepts in his statement that he struck my client and then sprayed him again.

"He was handcuffed and unceremoniously thrown into the back of a police van. When he ended up in a police cell he was asking himself how all this had happened."

Mr Taylor said that having reassured the police that he was the only person in the flat and he was fine, Cocker could not understand why they wanted his details.

"With hindsight he should just have told the police what they wanted to know and they would have gone on their way," said Mr Taylor.

Cocker pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer and was given a conditional discharge for six months following the incident on May 20. A charge of assaulting PC Michael Davies was withdrawn.

Speaking after the hearing, Cocker said he had been in his flat minding his own business'.

He said: "I can't believe I was hog tied and thrown in the back of a police van before being stripped naked and put in a cell.

"I was handcuffed behind my back and my ankles bound with plastic ties before six of them carried me to the van.

"It was something Paul Merton said and I remember falling of the settee, I didn't think it would end up in court.

"I hadn't had a drink or anything, I was just watching TV and all this happened. Paul Merton is one of my favourites. He's really funny."

Prosecutor Alex Mann said the police went to check if everything was alright and spoke to Cocker who was "co-operative and relaxed" and ensured them everything was okay.

"He only became worked up when the police asked for his details," said Mrs Mann. "The police tried to explain they just needed the name for the report but he became aggressive and started swearing at the officer."

After the hearing Joan Codling, 57, who lives in the flat below and made the call to police, said she contacted officers after being concerned that he may have fallen ill.

She said: "I was worried in case he was having an epileptic fit. There was a lot of noise and I didn't know what to do so I called the police."

A police spokesman said Cocker became aggresive' towards the officers who feared for their own safety. The spokesman said: "Parva spray was used to stop any confrontation and was necessary to protect the officers and any members of the public who were around at the time.

"Within the circumstances, we feel we used reasonable force."

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Your Say YourLancashire Telegraph

mc, blackburn says...
8:46am Wed 11 Jun 08

police attack man with weapon in his own home.....should be the title for this piece

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Jimmy Jones, Accy says...
8:56am Wed 11 Jun 08

Laughing at Paul Merton is the biggest crime here

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WayneKerr, says...
9:21am Wed 11 Jun 08

"With hindsight he should just have told the police what they wanted to know and they would have gone on their way," said Mr Taylor.

Kind of says it all really!!!

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brian, burn says...
9:45am Wed 11 Jun 08

Typical thiggish police behaviour, dare I say anymore!

The whole point of the exercise was that he was thought 'to be ill', if he appeared fine when answering the door, well its fine.

If I had been disturbed during a programme, I think that I would of been p!++ed off!

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Any Justice, Out there says...
10:05am Wed 11 Jun 08

Police State or a Freedom of Speech Democracy? Makes you wonder if there is any difference. Sorry but even a conditional sentence is to much. As for the Police spokesperson dare not say spokesman is day and age in case I am arrested for sexism you talk rubbish. Get your officers to go catch some real villains for a change and you want the public to support you in your fight for a pay rise yeah lol ok . Its about time the Police where Policed by an 9independent body not the Police Complaints Commission. How can any one have faith in the Police or Courts when a story like this appears is beyond myself.

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steve, accrington says...
10:55am Wed 11 Jun 08

You`d think we are living in Russia the way some police behave.Totally over the top reaction on a " soft target ". I would charge them with trespass.Note the assault charge on the policeman dropped.Another bad cop out to get compo.No wonder there`s so little respect for police these days.

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JH, Darwen says...
11:00am Wed 11 Jun 08

with hindsight the neighbour should have gone to the flat herself to investigate, all it would have taken was a knock on the door to see if he was alright, if there had been no answer then call the police, I hope Paul merton sees this and uses it in one of his sketches.
it would be funny if it wasnt true

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jimluftas, says...
11:22am Wed 11 Jun 08

Laughing at Paul Merton isn't a crime, he's hilarious.

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Me, Blackburn says...
12:38pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Any Justice wrote:
Police State or a Freedom of Speech Democracy? Makes you wonder if there is any difference. Sorry but even a conditional sentence is to much. As for the Police spokesperson dare not say spokesman is day and age in case I am arrested for sexism you talk rubbish. Get your officers to go catch some real villains for a change and you want the public to support you in your fight for a pay rise yeah lol ok . Its about time the Police where Policed by an 9independent body not the Police Complaints Commission. How can any one have faith in the Police or Courts when a story like this appears is beyond myself.
Shut up and learn how to spell! You really really don't know what you are talking about! Were you there? Do you really know what happened? Next time you are assaulted, mugged or need the police in any way, don't bother ringing them then!

Report this post »

donna, says...
12:51pm Wed 11 Jun 08

She said: "I was worried in case he was having an epileptic fit. There was a lot of noise and I didn't know what to do so I called the police."


i do have to wonder why she didnt call for a paramedic!

what a ridiculous waste of time and money, i appreciate he got angry with the police but the overly aggressive treatment is surely punishment enough, especially as he did nothing wrong. what idiots.

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Mike Tattersall, Great Harwood says...
1:10pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Another non-story, written by a second-rate "journalist" for a second-rate newspaper.

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leston, says...
1:17pm Wed 11 Jun 08

The police have no right to behave in this way.some of them are a set of bullies.

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Steve, Darwen says...
2:00pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Attacked and arrested in his own home, whilst watching TV..Are these the NEW anti laws..Why aren't the police more accountable than competent??

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Anon, says...
2:10pm Wed 11 Jun 08

He could be one of the answers on Have I Got News for You next week... of course, I won't be watching to find out, I don't want to get arrested...

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Think about it!, says...
2:51pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Oh come on, for all the police knew he could've been giving his wife a good hiding in there! Anybody normal would just tell them all was well, and even let them in for a look if that's what it took to reassure them! I'm not surprised he got sprayed, what an idiot - look at his photo for goodness sake! In the main, most police officers go to work to try and do a job to protect the public - that's all they were doing. Bravo!

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Anon, says...
3:26pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Think about it! wrote:
Oh come on, for all the police knew he could've been giving his wife a good hiding in there! Anybody normal would just tell them all was well, and even let them in for a look if that's what it took to reassure them! I'm not surprised he got sprayed, what an idiot - look at his photo for goodness sake! In the main, most police officers go to work to try and do a job to protect the public - that's all they were doing. Bravo!
Yes, bravo, the public is much safer knowing this man has been caught after falling off his sofa. You've named yourself 'Think about it!' yet you clearly haven't. I'd think it was quite natural to be confused and suspicious if the police turn up at your door asking strange questions, and then ask for your details. Maybe it's easy to say what he should have done afterwards, but it's absurd that this ended up in court. The police are clearly the ones who turned nothing into an incident.

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Same Old Faces, Blackburn says...
3:50pm Wed 11 Jun 08

The Anti-Police brigade need to read beyond the colourful journalism in this 'story' before coming out with the usual predictable comments. The police responded to a genuine concern for the welfare of this male. It is HE who becomes aggressive with the officers to the point were the officer has to use his PAVA spray. Do you really think in todays day and age they can just use this PAVA spray without just cause? He is obviously being aggressive as 6 OFFICERS were needed to restrain him (with leg straps) and carry him to the van. The 'I was just watching television' comment isnt relevant... it was his violent behaviour to the police on his doorstep, that was of his own making, and the ONLY reason for his arrest. Any NORMAL person would have thanked them (and his neighbour) for their concern and gone back to watching television.

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VoiceofReason, Nearby says...
4:23pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Come on now, Same Old Faces, if you're not one of our boys in blue, or have a close relative in the constabulary, then I'll willingly take a can of Parva in the mush.
Or should we all sleep safer in our beds knowing that there's always an over-officious bobby willing to poke his or her nose in when it is not required?
Surely if you're minding your own business in the confines of your own home you should be entitled to a little peace and quiet.
You've only got to be grateful that (most) of our bobbies remain unarmed or we'd need a bigger morgue at the infirmary.
Mind you, most coppers would argue that the job's not been the same since they could take 'suspects' behind the nick for a good kicking.
PS If this comment is followed by a missive from regular website contributor (and genuine Lancs copper)Gene Hunt, I'll rest my case.

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Any Justice, outhere says...
4:50pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Me wrote:
Any Justice wrote:
Police State or a Freedom of Speech Democracy? Makes you wonder if there is any difference. Sorry but even a conditional sentence is to much. As for the Police spokesperson dare not say spokesman is day and age in case I am arrested for sexism you talk rubbish. Get your officers to go catch some real villains for a change and you want the public to support you in your fight for a pay rise yeah lol ok . Its about time the Police where Policed by an 9independent body not the Police Complaints Commission. How can any one have faith in the Police or Courts when a story like this appears is beyond myself.
Shut up and learn how to spell! You really really don't know what you are talking about! Were you there? Do you really know what happened? Next time you are assaulted, mugged or need the police in any way, don't bother ringing them then!
No would sort it out myself not bother with that lot the laws an **** this story proved it. Stop defending the indefensible you hear it all the time the Police are a law unto themselves. This is what I mean about a Police State your probably a cop so of course I would expect comments like this.

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Hirschfelder, Leeds says...
5:17pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Whatever happened to 'An Englishman's Home is his Castle?'

They're slowly introducing a fascist police state and there's nothing we can do about it

I can be deatined for 42 days without charge just for typing that! Says it all.


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michael rigby, blackburn says...
5:20pm Wed 11 Jun 08

There is a lot more to this than meets the eye.
The Police are overstepping the mark in some circumstances, and that is worrying to say the least; but all this chap had to do was let them make sure nothing untoward was going on in his flat.
It is'nt rocket science. I think this man may need to develop some social skills.

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John, Blackburn says...
5:41pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Thuggish Police Officers? Police State? What are some of you talking about. Think about this. When somebody loses the plot when asked a simple question like, can I just take your name? after reports of banging any normal person would think hmmm something isn't right is it. What if the Officer walked away and 2 days later a body was discovered. He can't win either way can he?? I am sure that a number of people who have commented about thuggish behaviour have had at some point become aggressive towards Police on a Saturday night either on Darwen Street or at home following a domestic. It appears the educated people who read this blog are clever enough to realise there are 3 sides to every story, the officers, Mr Cockers and somewhere in the middle lies to the truth.

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abe, earth says...
5:45pm Wed 11 Jun 08

If hes not under any suspicion he does not have to give any details.

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John, Blackburn says...
5:50pm Wed 11 Jun 08

abe wrote:
If hes not under any suspicion he does not have to give any details.
Maybe he was once he became aggresive - maybe he was worried what officers may have found, I mean this may come as a surprise, so sit down. People LIE, yes they LIE and HIDE things

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el Rico, Airstrip One: Compact City 8: United States of Europe says...
6:16pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Meanwhile rapists, violent gang members and and murderers are running amok in this country... Falling off your own settee? Gosh..that's extremely terroristic!

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crab paste erm!, says...
6:25pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Mike Tattersall wrote:
Another non-story, written by a second-rate "journalist" for a second-rate newspaper.
and a 3rd rate reader hahaha

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Gene Hunt, Mars says...
7:28pm Wed 11 Jun 08

Difficult to make a judgement call on who was to blame for escalating what on the face of it appears to be a pretty straight forward call for the boys in blue. Could it be the social shortcomings of Mr Cocker or perhaps poor communication skills on behalf of the PC. According to my 1973 policing handbook, the way to deal with a situation like this is to enquire of the residents welfare and then invite him to allay your fear for other residents safety by showing you around his humble abode. If he refuses you entry, apply a non bruising groin slap and then step over the prone subject, inspect his abode, satisfy yourself that there has been no foul play and then leave. No fight, no pava spray, no lasting damage, no court case, and no need for the local rag to run a 'no story'. Saving the tax payers money. Can't wait for common sense policing to return to this fair county.

The Gene Genie 2008!

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Life, Accrington says...
8:48pm Wed 11 Jun 08

This is exactly the attitude of the Gestapo. On what grounds when called to a possible accident do you attack the client? Obviously in Britain's Police Force. We are paying for lunatics to dress in a uniform and abuse us...
Go to Lifeinthemix.co.uk
And understand what is really going on in this country and world...

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Glenn, Blackburn says...
9:45pm Wed 11 Jun 08

I'm not sure how to think on this incident. I think the fellow should have simply given his name, but I also believe the cop acted over-zealously. It takes two (or more) for an argument, so the cop should have used good judgement rather than continue the confrontation.
What followed as experience for the homeowner, was quite frankly over the top.

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Same Old Faces, Blackburn says...
10:18pm Wed 11 Jun 08

It is just about to appear on the local BBC News!!! Unbelievable.... all this for a muppet who doesnt know how to behave!!!!!!

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Smee again, Darwen says...
11:35pm Wed 11 Jun 08

John wrote:
Thuggish Police Officers? Police State? What are some of you talking about. Think about this. When somebody loses the plot when asked a simple question like, can I just take your name? after reports of banging any normal person would think hmmm something isn\'t right is it. What if the Officer walked away and 2 days later a body was discovered. He can\'t win either way can he?? I am sure that a number of people who have commented about thuggish behaviour have had at some point become aggressive towards Police on a Saturday night either on Darwen Street or at home following a domestic. It appears the educated people who read this blog are clever enough to realise there are 3 sides to every story, the officers, Mr Cockers and somewhere in the middle lies to the truth.
John, everybody is entitled to their own opinion as you are to yours but he was disturbed in his own home, he obviously wasn't dead, if he had given his name would the Police have left it at that...NO...they would had continued to question him asking more questions before finally insisting on looking round the flat. In the main there are a lot of good officers out on the streets, unfortunately the officers in this story failed to make that category.

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just another prole, planet earth says...
1:48am Thu 12 Jun 08

my brother has been a police officer for 7 years now and i remember a conversation i had with him during the evening after i had watched him on his passing out parade at hendon police training college upon completing his training. he told me that, in his honest opinion, that about 40% of those who passed would go on to become good officers, about 40% of them were in it purely to wield power over others and that the other 20% were totally incompetent and he couldn't understand how on earth they had made it through. he still stands by that analysis now - doesn't say much for the state of our keepers of the peace, i mean law enforcers, does it? there seems to be too many people out there who think that all police officers are trustworthy individuals with utmost integrity who are just doing the best they can at a tough job - birmingham 6, guildford 4, jean charles de menezes anyone?

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just another prole, planet earth says...
1:54am Thu 12 Jun 08

seems to me that the average copper is no more trustworthy than the average politician or local councillor

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just another prole, planet earth says...
9:29am Thu 12 Jun 08

Same Old Faces wrote:
It is just about to appear on the local BBC News!!! Unbelievable.... all this for a muppet who doesnt know how to behave!!!!!!
i think that final word needs to read either "obey" or "comply"

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steve, accrington says...
10:07am Thu 12 Jun 08

Once again you are removing posts for no reason.Neil Smith is a lying scum who commited perjury in court amongst other things.

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lancslass, says...
11:51am Thu 12 Jun 08

I had to laugh when I saw it on tv that the officers feared for their lives.Get a grip Pc,if this type of situation makes you scared then your in the wrong job.

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anon, Darwen says...
12:02pm Thu 12 Jun 08

lancslass wrote:
I had to laugh when I saw it on tv that the officers feared for their lives.Get a grip Pc,if this type of situation makes you scared then your in the wrong job.
Another uneducated scrote I see. Fearing for ones safety is different to fearing for your life. who are you anyway his sister, lover or both I presume -

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Alex, Wigan says...
1:55pm Thu 12 Jun 08

No doubt if PC Michael Davies had been faced with a gang of feral teenagers, he would have bottled it and let them carry on with whatever they were doing, but a man in his 30s standing in his own home is fair game.

Whilst he should have just given his name, why should he have to - he'd not committed any offense and was minding his own business in his own home.

Yet another example of the kind of impotent cowards that are allowed to join the police these days.

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Dan, says...
2:00pm Thu 12 Jun 08

Mike Tattersall wrote:
Another non-story, written by a second-rate "journalist" for a second-rate newspaper.
But yet you keep on reading stories on here.

Numpty.

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boswell, says...
2:14pm Thu 12 Jun 08

anon wrote:
lancslass wrote:
I had to laugh when I saw it on tv that the officers feared for their lives.Get a grip Pc,if this type of situation makes you scared then your in the wrong job.
Another uneducated scrote I see. Fearing for ones safety is different to fearing for your life. who are you anyway his sister, lover or both I presume -
I bet they were all terribly afraid for their safety when he was trying to shut his door on them.

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jacqueline, Bristol says...
2:47pm Thu 12 Jun 08

This is my cousin!!! Absolutely awesome, this has absolutely cracked me up.

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laughing policeman, Laughing@nicked.com says...
2:48pm Thu 12 Jun 08

Attacked and arrested by the "laughing policemen" well after the case anyway i bet they had a good laugh oh, ho ho ho ho ho ho hoooo, ah ha ha ha ha ha ha haaa.

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ProfessorPoopyPants, says...
3:42pm Thu 12 Jun 08

You are presumed to be a criminal first...and if you don't cooperate, like a good criminal, then you are a nasty criminal and you must be in violation of some one of a million laws that you never would be aware of otherwise. Welcome to Your Police State.

I really feel for you Brits, but here in America, we are under the same Evil Eye of Sauron. The Tax on Breathing is next and after that, it's all over.

Do not trust government, they exist to maintain their power at all costs. Resistance is essential. This guy did the right thing, if a cop had asked me for my name in my own home, I would have told him it was - Suckmeye ButtPipe, officer.

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crab paste, says...
8:11pm Thu 12 Jun 08

jacqueline wrote:
This is my cousin!!! Absolutely awesome, this has absolutely cracked me up.
yeah.. and his my brother too

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wee boz, Preston says...
8:25pm Thu 12 Jun 08

Mr Cocker pleaded guilty. If his version of events is correct there is no way a lawyer would have allowed him to plead guilty. It is clearly a lot of hot air about "falling off the settee laughing". Has he made a complaint? I doubt it. Seems to be enjoying his two minutes of fame though.

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FRANK..Jr.., making love to removals R me in his front room says...
8:48pm Thu 12 Jun 08

looks like hitler to me or is it the mayor of blackburn ?

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Mike, Blackpool says...
10:52pm Thu 12 Jun 08

If this dim neighbour suspected he'd collapsed or had a fit why would she not call an ambulance instead of the police ?

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lancslass, says...
1:24am Fri 13 Jun 08

Anon,you wrote..Another uneducated scrote I see. Fearing for ones safety is different to fearing for your life. who are you anyway his sister, lover or both I presume - ....about me,I am none of the above,but it made me laugh.I am also well educated.I stand by my original comment.If the pc was fearful over this incident,He is in the wrong job.Fact.

Report this post »

LESTON, says...
1:28am Fri 13 Jun 08

anon,why would you presume someone is uneducated and a scrote?I can see you are not educated by your terrible writing,pot and kettle spring to mind.

Report this post »

Al, says...
12:18am Sat 14 Jun 08

We have only heard Mr Cocker's side of the story, at the end of the day the bobbie was doing his job if Mr Cocker hadn't gobbed off he wouldn't have got locked up I am sure, it couldn't have been that bad, he didn't look to have any injuries to me, does anyone really believe his story?? Honest?? I couldn't be a copper, you are dammed if you do dammed if you don't, they are after all only human

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matthew rivers, blackburn says...
2:14pm Sat 14 Jun 08

Same Old Faces wrote:
The Anti-Police brigade need to read beyond the colourful journalism in this \'story\' before coming out with the usual predictable comments. The police responded to a genuine concern for the welfare of this male. It is HE who becomes aggressive with the officers to the point were the officer has to use his PAVA spray. Do you really think in todays day and age they can just use this PAVA spray without just cause? He is obviously being aggressive as 6 OFFICERS were needed to restrain him (with leg straps) and carry him to the van. The \'I was just watching television\' comment isnt relevant... it was his violent behaviour to the police on his doorstep, that was of his own making, and the ONLY reason for his arrest. Any NORMAL person would have thanked them (and his neighbour) for their concern and gone back to watching television.
it takes six officers to arrest a six year old these days and u really think the police can not get away with spraying pava spray without reason of course they can my mate got punched and kicked by the police and the sargent last year when it was mistaken identity the sargent even made death threats they just cover it up and stick together they just love the power obviusly ther not all like this alot are genuine and its not fair on them having to work with the corrupt ones becouse alot get dragges into it something needs to change these days even if u call the police as a victim u get ill treaten they just cant see past all the bad peaple they deal with it winds me up but i will be a police man one day and il try my best to sort some of it out and that is a promice ther will be changes ............

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kath, blackburn says...
11:40pm Sat 14 Jun 08

At least the neighbour cared enough to contact someone.If anything had happened to him it would have been different story.

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wicked, bburn says...
12:07am Sat 11 Oct 08

this guy has been fighting with kids that are 13,14,15 and 16. this makes him atleast 20 years older than the oldest. he blaimed them for somthing that wasn't them and attacked them. he needs sending down!

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Barbara J, Hamilton Ontario says...
10:04pm Sat 14 Feb 09

Please, do you know what these officers have to face everyday. Talk is cheap, walk in their shoes for a while and you would soon learn that all is not well. People today have no respect for anything or anybody and these officers have their hands tied as to what they can do. LIGHTEN UP SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL POLICE OFFICERS

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Comments are closed on this article.

ARREST: Christopher Cocker ended up in police cells after laughing so much at Paul Merton ARREST: Christopher Cocker ended up in police cells after laughing so much at Paul Merton

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