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Violent man bit police before 'takedown' - hearing

Submitted photo Tariq Evans smiles at the camera wearing a black and white checked polo shirt. His black hair is short and he has a short beard and moustache.Submitted photo
A police officer is accused of gross misconduct when "taking down" Tariq Evans during an arrest

A "highly aggressive" and "extremely violent" man assaulted, bit and spat at police officers before he was "taken to the ground" by a police custody sergeant, a hearing has been told.

Sgt Rhodri Davies is accused of losing his temper and pulling Tariq Evans, who is 6ft 7in (2m), to the floor and hitting him in Swansea Central police station.

A misconduct hearing in Bridgend was told that Mr Evans butted a police van window and attacked officers before he was handcuffed and taken to the custody suite on 24 October 2022.

Sgt Davies denies using unnecessary, disproportionate and unreasonable force against Mr Evans and gross misconduct.

PC Steven Rees told the hearing the arrest of Tariq Evans in Morriston, Swansea was "very unusual" because he required handcuffs, leg restraints and a spit hood.

Colin Banham, representing Sgt Davies, said Mr Evans was "highly aggressive" and "not only violent but extremely violent towards officers".

Mr Banham said Mr Evans inflicted "some sort of bite injury" to an officer's hand, who was later taken to hospital.

The hearing was told custody suite officers were warned about Mr Evans before he was brought into the station.

Mr Banham suggested this was "not normal", which was confirmed by PC Rees, who has been a response officer for more than 22 years.

The hearing was told Mr Evans threatened police officers in the custody suite, saying he was "hard", a "big boy" and calling the officers "muppets".

Jonathan Walter, who represents what is known as the "appropriate authority" bringing the case against Sgt Davies, told the hearing "alleged incidents of assault" took place in the custody suite.

He questioned PC Rees on reports he told a senior officer that Sgt Davies had taken Mr Evans "to the floor" and punched him, "for no obvious reason". PC Rees admitted he "may have" said that.

Jaggery/Geograph Swansea Central Police Station main entrance seen from the street. The building is light brown brick with a blue rounded facade on the corner and a large police/heddlu signJaggery/Geograph
The incident is alleged to have taken place at Swansea Police Station in October 2022

In a witness statement PC Rees said he saw Sgt Davies "aim a strike" at Mr Evans but added he did not see where it landed.

Asked whether he could see a "valid reason" for Sgt Davies to "take down" Mr Evans, he said: "There's none that I can recall, no."

He said people were sometimes "taken to the floor" in custody if there was a "threat of obvious violence".

Mr Banham said that at no point did PC Rees say Sgt Davies's force was "unnecessary, unreasonable and disproportionate" in his witness statements.

The hearing continues.