A 95-year-old woman with dementia is in a critical condition after she was allegedly tasered by police in an aged care home in Cooma in New South Wales.
It has been reported the elderly woman had been found by staff holding a knife, and police were called on Wednesday afternoon. It is understood police tasered the woman after struggling to disarm her.
The incident occurred at the Yallambee Lodge in Cooma, an aged care home run by the Snowy Monaro regional council.
A “critical incident investigation” into the matter has been launched by police, with NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb saying the police are treating it with the “utmost seriousness”.
“My thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. I understand and share the community concerns and assure you that we are treating this matter with the utmost seriousness,” Webb said.
The 95-year-old woman is now in a critical condition at Cooma district hospital and is being monitored.
In a statement NSW police said:
“A critical incident investigation has been launched after an elderly woman sustained injuries during an interaction with police at an aged care facility in the state’s south today.
“A critical incident team will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“That investigation will be subject to independent review.”