Two uniformed officers turned up at the man’s home in Potton in Bedfordshire at around 5am as they responded to the call. Bedfordshire Police have since said the elderly man grabbed a wooden object and there was a scuffle which left one officer with a facial injury. He was subsequently arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. The elderly man’s granddaughter, Kayla, tweeted photos of her grandfather’s hands after the arrest showing deep bloody cuts and bruises on his hands. On Twitter, granddaughter Kayla said: “My 81 year old grandfather was arrested because Bedfordshire Police got the wrong address… “…He was terrified, sick and it took ten police officers and six vehicles to arrest him. “Maybe the heart attack gave him superpowers? “He’s in the cells, confused and bruised trying to defend himself.” The man’s granddaughter said he was left “terrified” after the arrest Credit: Twitter/@Kayla81434876 In a video posted on social media, the man’s son can be heard saying: “He’s my dad, he’s 81, he’s got Alzheimer’s, he’s had two strokes.” The video shows the elderly man in handcuffs being escorted into the back of a police van. Bedfordshire Constabulary has been referred to the police over the incident. In a statement posted on Twitter, Bedfordshire Police said: “Two uniformed officers who responded to reports of a disturbance in Potton at around 5am on Friday initially approached the wrong address by mistake. “As they drove away from the property, they were approached on the road by a resident holding a wooden tool. “The two officers on the scene called for backup and several other units attended for backup. All these officers were in uniform and marked police vehicles. “Before other units arrived, a scuffle ensued where one of our officers attempted to take the wooden tool from the resident, during which he suffered a cut to the face. “A man in his 80s has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. “He was taken into custody for a short time and has since been released under investigation while we assess the evidence. Det Ch Supt Julie Henderson from Bedfordshire Police said: “We understand the concerns about this incident and are carrying out our own internal review. “We have also voluntarily referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for full transparency and openness and to ascertain if there is any learning to be done. “In the coming days the well-being of all involved will be our primary concern.” Police later took to Twitter to clarify that the wooden object was not a cane, but something similar in size and shape to a rounded bat – although they also confirmed it was not a rounded bat. Want a quick and special update on the biggest news? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out what you need to know.
