Daily Times

LONDON: Dalian Atkinson, the former English Premier League football star who played for Aston Villa and Spanish club Real Sociedad, died on Monday after being Tasered by English police, his father told British media. Police confirmed that officers were called to an address in Telford, western England, at around 1:30am (0030 GMT). “Upon arrival Taser was deployed and a 48-year-old man, who subsequently received medical attention, was pronounced dead at approximately 3:00am,” said a police statement. Neighbours said the address was the home of Atkinson’s 85-year-old father Ernest. “He got Tasered in the street,” media cited Ernest Atkinson as saying. “He was in a real state. I don’t know if he was drunk or on drugs but he was very agitated and his mind was upset,” he added. “He was threatening and very upset. I didn’t call the police but someone else did.” Neighbours reported that there had been “banging and shouting, and doors being kicked in” before police arrived, and that “Dalian was shouting about being homeless”. The ambulance service said Atkinson went into cardiac arrest as he was being taken to the town’s Princess Royal Hospital. The incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission watchdog, and is likely to trigger a debate about police use of electronic stun guns.