The Metropolitan Police Service in the United Kingdom has terminated the employment of PC Shola Balogun, a Nigerian-British officer, following an incident in which he bit a colleague during a social gathering. The incident occurred on April 22, 2022, at Goals Sports Bar in Bexleyheath, Southeast London, where around 70 attendees had gathered to celebrate an officer's 40th birthday.
During the disciplinary hearing, testimony from an anonymous officer revealed that Balogun arrived at the event in a "ridiculously drunken state." As the night progressed, his alcohol consumption increased, leading to significant intoxication, a claim supported by several witnesses.
Around 11:30 PM, while walking up a flight of stairs, the victim encountered Balogun, who removed the officer's glasses and tossed them to the ground. The victim responded amicably, but the situation escalated when Balogun allegedly pushed the officer by the throat.
The victim reported Balogun's aggressive behavior shortly after, noting the loud music made communication difficult. Subsequently, Balogun leaned forward and bit the officer on the right cheek.
Although Balogun denied both pushing and biting his colleague, the panel did not find his account credible. A medical report corroborated the incident, revealing a suspected bite mark on the victim's face.
In its ruling, the hearing concluded that Balogun's conduct was serious enough to warrant dismissal, stating that a Final Written Warning would not be adequate. The panel affirmed its findings, indicating that it was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Balogun assaulted his colleague by biting him while off duty at the venue.
No comments:
Post a Comment