Category: Baton

Police shoot terrorist in Melbourne, Australia – two video angles

On 9 November 2018, one male attacker, Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, set his vehicle on fire and stabbed three people at Bourke Street in the Melbourne central business district, Australia, before being fatally shot by Victoria Police. Of the three victims stabbed by Ali, one of the stabbed victims died at the scene while the other two were treated by paramedics and taken to hospital.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Melbourne_stabbing_attack

One police officer attempts to disarm Ali with a baton, which is completely ineffective. His partner shoots Ali which stops the attack.

Man threatens another with baton, gets knocked out

The man holding the baton made some errors:

  • Allowed his opponent to close the distance when he had a tool which needs more range.
  • Range can be managed by movement – he’s completely stationary.
  • Flat posture, straight back, very likely standing with knees locked straight, does not appear to be in any kind of stance which would prepare him to respond in the split second required to move, defend or attack. His opponent constantly adjusts.
  • Allowed opponent to grip his wrist. Difficult to swing baton effectively when grappling starts. The grip even from this position may allow opponent to stay off-centre when the baton swing comes.
  • Furtive glance made by opponent is a huge warning sign. He has already decided to attack at this point and is looking for witnesses, other enemies or allies which may factor in to his decision to go ahead.
  • Even if he decided to use the baton, it’s a poor weapon. Law enforcement use this as a method of pain compliance, and often need to move to other methods when it fails. Striking the legs is unlikely to instantly shatter kneecaps unless you’re very lucky/unlucky to hit that spot. You’re only starting the fight, not ending it. Swinging to the head would be a different matter.
  • Compare the above (pain compliance) to the punches thrown to the head (incapacitation).

Baton man seems to think intimidation is enough to keep him safe. The baton is like some kind of force field, everything else can be ignored.

From this position, when would he decide to use it? Once the fighting starts? Too late, too close. When the man fails to step back? This may be considered unjustified assault. Baton man then made a threat to seriously harm, which prompted an aggressive response. He put himself in a situation which is very difficult to win.

OC spray, Taser, Baton ineffective against drug affected man

Reluctant to go hands-on, police use their baton, then Taser which fails multiple times. One police officer attempts to knock over the man by rushing at him from behind but ultimately loses control as he stands up. The Taser is used again, then OC spray before the Taser is used once more before the man is taken into custody.

All of the tools police used in this instance depend on pain compliance, apart from the Taser which incapacitates for mere seconds IF the two prongs make contact correctly and in the correct positions on the body. Physical control with grappling techniques may have resulted in a faster and safer arrest, however these officers either lack those skills or were not willing to go hands-on.