Terminally ill man who wanted to tick mooning a speed camera off bucket list wrestled to ground by police
A terminally ill man who wanted to fulfil one of his bucket list wishes by mooning at a speed camera found himself being wrestled to the ground in his garden by six police officers.
Darrell Meekcom, 55, has written a list of things he wants to do before he dies after he was diagnosed with multiple system atrophy, a terminal condition which affects the nervous system.
He managed to tick one of these off his list last week when he bared his naked bottom at a mobile speed camera van in Kidderminster, Worcestershire.
But he was left stunned when the officer failed to see the funny side and reported him for indecent exposure.
Mr Meekcom, who also has Parkinson's disease and kidney failure, said just 20 minutes later three police cars pulled up at his home and demanded to be let in.
When he refused, he says they raided his home and kicked down the garden gate before tackling him to the ground and handcuffing him.
Mobile phone footage filmed by his wife Sarah, 36, shows Mr Meekcom calmly telling officers: "I'm terminally ill, I won't be able to breathe like this.
"This is ridiculous - I moonied a speed camera. I moonied a speed camera."
One female officer can be heard replying: "Well that is a significant statement that you have just made to us."
Mr Meekcom says: "I'm quite happy to say that because it was one off my bucket list.
"I've just been diagnosed with multiple system atrophy. I'm terminally ill, I've got a very short time to live and it was one off my bucket list.
"Have you never wanted to moonie a speed camera? Well, I did."
Mr Meekcom said he dropped his trousers at the police van on Stourbridge Road while his wife went to buy some bread from the supermarket.
"It was a good laugh," he said.
But Mr Meekcom was arrested and then taken into custody and has since been released under investigation on suspicion of indecent exposure and dangerous driving.
After he was released from custody he went to Kidderminster Hospital and was later referred to Worcestershire Royal Hospital due to fears he suffered a bleed to the brain.
He said: "I feel like I have been abused. It was outrageous bullying.
"They saw me as a big fellow. They maybe perceived me as a threat but because of my illnesses a five-year-old child could knock me over.
"I have MSA, heart disease, kidney failure and Parkinson's Disease - I'm a threat to nobody. I use a wheelchair and need a Zimmer frame to get out of bed.
"They could have killed me very easily and even when I calmly explained the situation they carried on restraining me and cuffing me from behind.
"I feel it was an abuse of police power and privilege," he added.
Mr Meekcom - who also has a bungee jump and parachuting on his bucket list - has reported the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
In a statement West Mercia Police local area commander, Superintendent Mark Colquhoun, said: "We appreciate the footage and commentary circulating around the incident has caused some concern.
"The incident was reviewed at the time and, after consideration of the full facts and circumstances, including reviewing officers' body worn video, I am satisfied that appropriate action was taken by officers.
"The incident lasted around 38 minutes from the time of arrival at the address and therefore lasted significantly longer than the footage already in the media.
"The criminal investigation is ongoing and a complaint has been made to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), therefore it would be inappropriate to comment further."
