A sawn open door, a broken window, shards of glass and burn marks in the bed are the silent witnesses to the raid on Monday, May 11. “When I walk here, I get goosebumps,” says brother Ajan as the shards of glass crunch under his shoes. “Those last hours of my brother’s life must have been traumatic,” he says, visibly emotional, as he shows his brother’s bedroom.
In the same bedroom on that Monday afternoon, a flash grenade was thrown through the window. This is a non-lethal tactical weapon that is used to temporarily disorient people with a loud bang and a bright flash. The family also claims that an electroshock weapon was used. Alaston is later overpowered. He becomes unwell in the ambulance. He is resuscitated, but later dies in hospital.
Danger to self and others
Alaston had been struggling with psychological problems resulting in psychosis since 2010 due to drug use. “He felt very anxious, but he was never dangerous,” says his brother Ajan. Yet things go completely wrong on that Monday.
“The mental health coach came by to take blood samples and prescribe new medication. My brother didn’t feel like it. The mental health coach then raised the alarm.” The police later return with a SWAT team because Alaston may pose a danger to himself and others. “That’s nonsense,” says Ajan. “He was actually very calm.”