The police constable said public investigation death of Sheku Bayo in police custody, which he appears to have been in a “rage or zombie state” when officers tried to apprehend him.
PC Craig Walker said Mr Baio approached him with one thousand-yard look” and did not react to the irritating surfactant spray.
Testimony in in second week of investigation, PC Walker said race played no role in his risk grade of situation.
Baio, 31, died after being detained by police. in Kirkcaldy on morning of May 3, 2015 Officers responded to messages of a black man with knife hitting cars in in street.
PC Walker said how he and his colleague, PC Peyton, found Mr. Baio, but shortly after arrival he ignored them.
He said, “We got out in front of him, asked him to stay where he was, to let me look at your hands, etc., but he continued walk and not very exciting. with in fact that we were there.”
He said that Constable Paton fired a CS aerosol at Mr. Baio, but the officer “evaded” after the aerosol “exploded”. back on his”.
At that moment PC Walker called out, “Stay there, drop your weapon” and he said that prompted Mr. Baio to turn round and start goes to him. The officer told the investigation that he had applied an irritating surfactant spray, but that it had no intended effect. effect.
He said, “I got good contact with in eyes and face. There seemed to be no reaction at all, and then he just wiped off the splashes that were on his face and just Sort of threw him out.”
In a written statement during the investigation, PC Walker said he was of the opinion that Mr. Baio was “physically capable.” of causing serious injury to someone and obviously in some of rage or zombie state.”
In an oral testimony, he explained: “It would be when you’re so worked up so angry that you lose control of your surroundings. Someone who got so pissed off, pissed off that he lost his mind.
“He didn’t focus. on me, he looked through me, it was a rather impressive, intense look.
PC Walker stated that race was not a factor in his risk assessment after calls from participants of in public who gave descriptions of Human in in street carry a knife and stab vehicles.
Read more:
close friend statements black man was killed in in police custody’
‘We want in truth’, says family of Human who died in in police custody
In a statement prepared in advance of court hearing and presented at the inquest, he said: “The only factors taken into account in assessing risk were the words big, muscular and with a knife. Race not play Except in my risk grade.”
PC Walker told the investigators that when he first confronted Mr. Baio, he did not behave aggressively at this stage, and the officer did not see the knife.
Angela Graham QC asked him: “What could have prevented you at this stage from parking a little further and watching what is happening? for a few seconds, 10 seconds, or a few minutes?
The officer replied: risk to public what has been passed. Although there is no one at this time. arrive there is a row of Houses on one side passes vehicles.
“Just because he didn’t do anything there, I don’t think it will reflect too well. on police if we just parked up and watched him and someone came out them house and he attacked this man while we were in the parking lot up watching it happen.
“It does a lot more sense to take advantage of in fact that he doesn’t seem in possession of knife at this point, approach him, try to communicate with and take him into custody.”
PC Walker must continue to testify. public investigations presided over by Lord Brackedale, on Friday.
He studies the circumstances leading to death of Mr Baio how the police figured it out with in the aftermath subsequent investigation and no matter race was a factor.
