Former Aston Villa footballer tasered to death by police

Police said a man received medical attention after officers used a Taser when they arrived in the early hours of Monday.

West Mercia Police can confirm that officers responded to a report for the concern for the safety of an individual at approximately 1.30am this morning at an address in Telford.

The incident happened at approximately 1.30am on Monday, after officers were called following concerns for the safety of an individual.

West Mercia Police said in a statement Monday that an independent investigation has been launched into the death of a man who was shot by police with a Taser.

“I don’t know if he was drunk or on drugs but he was very agitated and his mind was upset”, Ernest Atkinson told the paper.

Following the death of Mr Atkinson, West Mercia Police referred the incident to the IPCC and the IPCC sent investigators to the scene and to oversee police post incident procedures.

“The IPCC is conducting a full and thorough investigation into all of the circumstances surrounding his death including the use of force”, the commission said in a statement. It has been linked to 10,329 incidents past year in England and Wales with at least 10 deaths over the last decade.

Friends said he had suffered mental health problems after leaving the military.

As it turned out, the very first Premier League season back in 1992-93 would be remembered most for the brilliance of Eric Cantona rather than Dalian Atkinson.

Atkinson then moved to Real Sociedad, scoring 12 goals in one season before returning to England to play for Aston Villa.

Atkinson’s other clubs included Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, Real Sociedad, Fenebahce and Manchester City. He ended his playing career in South Korea in 2001.

“RIP Dalian Atkinson. You’ll never be forgotten!”

“My thoughts are with Mr Atkinson’s family and friends, and all those affected, at this hard time”.

Defender Paul McGrath, widely considered to be the greatest Villa player of the modern era, added: “Don’t feel to gud at the moment, Dalian Atkinson was a huge part of the Villa family I played with lovely kid and friend R.I.P pal Xx”.

There were 10,329 incidents involving police Tasers in 2015, a two percent rise on the previous year, but they were only discharged on 1,921 of those occasions, an annual decrease of 3 percent. He represented England’s “B” team. In one of the cases, the coroner found that the man died of long-standing heart disease.

The ambulance service said Atkinson went into cardiac arrest as he was being taken to Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital.

“Despite the efforts of the crew and hospital staff, it was not possible to save him and he was confirmed dead at hospital, shortly after arrival”.