Police officer punched man as a 'distraction'

A police officer admitted to striking a man twice while placing him into a police van, claiming it was intended to "distract" him. The man, 39-year-old Robert Gracey from Morton Terrace, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, passed away in the early hours of 29 September 2021 at Lincoln County Hospital.

The inquest at the Myles Cross Centre in Lincoln revealed that Mr. Gracey had become unresponsive in the police van after being restrained by officers earlier for banging on a police station window.

Garry Firth, a former police officer, confessed to punching Mr. Gracey twice while he resisted being secured in the van. Body-worn camera footage shown to the jury captured the moments shortly after midnight on 29 September, where Mr. Firth struck Mr. Gracey in the stomach twice during the attempt to place him inside the vehicle.

Violent Struggle

In a statement read at the inquest, Mr. Firth described Mr. Gracey as possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs and acting aggressively. He recounted that he initially tried to hold Mr. Gracey, who broke free and appeared ready to attack.

After tackling Mr. Gracey to the ground, Mr. Firth said he stood on his leg to restrain him. "He was enraged, gritting and grinding his teeth and spitting," Mr. Firth stated. "He was resisting with all of his strength. He was struggling violently." He added that the two punches with his right fist were intended as a distraction.

Once Mr. Gracey was inside the van, Mr. Firth and PC Nicky Briscoe were transporting him to Lincoln Police Station when he became unresponsive. He was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

During questioning, Sergeant Paul Wilson explained that officers sometimes use distraction strikes "in the hope it would momentarily stun that person." At the start of the inquest, Mr. Gracey's wife, Zoe, expressed heartbreak over seeing her husband subjected to verbal abuse and physical force in his final hour.

The inquest is ongoing.

Author: Maya Henderson