Tasered grandmother Clare Nowland: Aussies unleash police after posting photo of missing woman

Australians are so outraged at a police officer tasering a 95-year-old grandmother that a well-meaning public appeal for another missing elderly woman has been hijacked with comments from trolls asking if she will also be tasered.

Police announced last weekend that they are looking for 76-year-old Lyn Campbell-Ryder who was last seen in late April at a house on Garfield Street, in Carlton, south Sydney.

NSW Police shared a message on their Twitter account on Saturday calling for public assistance to help find Ms Campbell-Ryder, after her landlord had reported her missing a day earlier.

But the post has been inundated with comments from many who have attacked NSW police after an officer tasered Clare Nowland at Yallambee Lodge nursing home, in NSW’s Snowy Mountains, last Wednesday morning.

Ms Nowland is now undergoing end-of-life care, and the incident sparked international outrage.

The missing person’s tweet sparked inappropriate messages including, “Looking for more Taser drills.”

Police shared a message on their Twitter account on Saturday calling for public help to help find Ms Campbell-Ryder, but were attacked by Aussies after the Tasering of 95-year-old Clare Nowland

The post was quickly deluged with comments from many who attacked NSW police after an officer tasered Clare Nowland at Yallambee Lodge nursing home, in the Snowy Mountains of NSW, last Wednesday morning

“Someone finds her before the police do,” said another.

“So you can tase first and ask questions later?”

“Did you accidentally taser this woman?” said an answer.

NSW Police have been contacted for comment. The taunts cannot be moderated away on Twitter.

Mrs. Campbell-Ryder is described as being white in appearance, about 5 feet 8 inches (155 cm) tall, of short build, with short gray hair and brown eyes.

She is known to frequent the Sydney CBD area and anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to call the police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Ms Nowland, meanwhile, is unconscious at Cooma District Hospital following the incident at around 4am last Wednesday at her nursing home.

The 95 year old — who has dementia, weighs just 100 pounds, uses a walker, and is 5 feet, 2 inches (1.57 meters) tall — was shot by police after taking a serrated steak knife from the kitchen to a treatment room.

Police and paramedics tried to get her to drop the knife before a senior officer fired his taser once as she slowly walked towards them.

Mrs. Nowland fell backwards and hit her head on the floor, causing a basilar skull fracture and a brain haemorrhage.

Clare Nowland is now receiving end-of-life care at Cooma District Hospital, in southern NSW, after being seriously injured last Wednesday morning

The local priest, Father Mark Croker, visited Mrs Nowland on Sunday and held a Catholic Mass at her hospital bedside. He said that although Mrs. Nowland was demented, she was in good shape and could carry on a conversation.

“The thing about Clare is that the dementia wasn’t quite set in yet, you could still have a conversation with her… she could get a little confused, but that’s an age thing,” he told the Daily Telegraph .

It is clear that the 95-year-old is unconscious and her eight children and their families are taking turns talking to her.

The officer who fired the electric shock weapon joined the force 12 years ago and has since been taken off active duty.

A critical incident investigation into the incident has been elevated to ‘level one’ as Ms Nowland suffered an injury that could lead to her death.

Detectives from the State Homicide Squad and Law Enforcement Conduct Commission are investigating what happened and whether the forced use was appropriate.