Police sergeant who struck handcuffed man as he lay face down guilty of gross misconduct

Swansea: A police sergeant named Rhodri Davies has been found guilty of gross misconduct. He struck a handcuffed man, Tariq Evans, while he was lying face down. This all happened back on October 24, 2022, at the Swansea Central Police Station.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Davies lost his cool with Evans, who was already restrained. The panel chairman, Christopher McKay, called Davies’s actions reckless and dangerous. He pointed out that Evans posed no real threat at that moment.

Davies used a risky restraint technique, which involved pressing his hand against Evans’ neck. Although the panel noted that the pressure was brief and Evans didn’t suffer lasting harm, it still counted as gross misconduct. They found that the force used was unlawful and unreasonable.

Interestingly, while some allegations against Davies were not proven, the overall behavior in the custody suite was enough to warrant serious consequences. The panel reviewed over 23 minutes of footage from the incident, which showed that Evans was not a risk by the time he reached the custody suite.

Davies, who has nearly two decades of experience, could face losing his job. The panel will announce their decision soon, and they might consider other penalties like demotion or a final warning. It’s a serious situation, and it’s clear that the actions of police officers are under scrutiny now more than ever.