An elderly man has been hospitalised after being tasered by police while an inpatient at the McKellar Centre. Barwon Health’s Chief Medical Officer will probe the “serious incident” following grave concerns raised by the man’s family. The 74-year-old man, who suffers vascular dementia, was reportedly self-harming in his bed with a utensil around 6pm Saturday night and sustained serious injuries. Victoria Police spokeswoman Nikki Ladgrove said officers were called to the North Geelong facility to assist staff when the taser was deployed. “Officers attended the Ballarat Road facility just after 6pm where a man was located with serious injuries and in possession of a weapon,” Ms Ladgrove said. “After unsuccessfully negotiating with the man, officers discharged a conducted energy device.” The man’s wife Jackie Hayes said her husband had a broken leg at the time of the incident and had only been at the McKellar Centre for three days after spending eight weeks in hospital following surgery. Mrs Hayes said her husband could become agitated due to his dementia but was supposed to be under 24 hour guard. “Surely they could’ve found a better way,” Mrs Hayes said.
