Two SA police officers stood down after man tasered at Adelaide care home

Body-cam footage of the moment a man in his 60s was tasered by two cops at an Adelaide care home “justified” an urgent inquiry, senior police say.

A man in his 60s has been tasered and pepper-sprayed at a residential care facility in the southern suburbs.

Two SA police officers who were at the scene have been stood down from operational duty, and a criminal and disciplinary investigation and commissioner’s inquiry are underway.

The incident happened nearly two weeks ago on Thursday, October 26, when the two officers had attended the facility, which police have not named, to help SA ambulance officers.

During the attendance, an altercation occurred between police and the man at the facility, and a taser and OC spray were deployed.

The man was restrained by police and sustained minor injuries during the arrest.

Ten days later on November 5, a complaint was made to the Office for Public Integrity about the conduct of the attending officers.

Speaking to 7NEWS a relative of the man, who did not want to be identified, took aim at the care facility for not contacting the family first about his behaviour.

“Don’t bring the police into it because they’ve got enough on their hands.”

Police reviewed body-worn footage, which was also seen by Commissioner Grant Stevens, and following an assessment a criminal and disciplinary investigation as well as a commissioner’s inquiry were launched.

SA Police said protocol prohibits the disclosure or publication of information on such matters, but Mr Stevens decided it was in the public interest to disclose the incident and complaint.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Deputy Commissioner Linda Williams said SA Police had acted “swiftly” as soon as the complaint was received.

Police Deputy Commissioner, Linda Williams. Picture: Matt Loxton

Ms Williams said she had viewed the body-worn camera footage and there was a level of concern that justified a Commissioner’s inquiry, which will be led by a senior police officer and overseen by the independent Office for Public Integrity.

She could not provide a condition update on the victim.

It comes after a 95-year-old dementia patient died a week after she was tasered by police in her NSW nursing home in May.

Clare Nowland, a 95-year-old dementia patient died after being tasered by NSW police.

Cooma grandmother Clare Nowland was tasered while holding a knife and using her walking frame during a police call-out after staff found her sitting holding the knife in the early hours of the morning. She fell and hit her head and later died in hospital.

The two police officers were suspended, while one, Senior Constable Kristian White, was later charged with several assault offences.

Ms Nowland’s family later filed a civil lawsuit against the state of NSW for battery and negligence alleging she was restrained and “pushed into the ground” despite having lost consciousness.

No further information in relation to the southern suburbs incident will be disclosed or published, in accordance with the Police Complaints and Discipline Act.