- Even the most cultured people can apparently turn into raging naked beasts.
Here at Oddee, we’ve covered a lot of absolutely bizarre stories over the years. Even then, we still sometimes run into cases so strange that we don’t quite know where to begin.
There’s really no way to build into this story, so let’s just get right to it. The British police were recently forced to taser a retired naked opera singer who was demolishing a nursing home armed with a bow and arrow.
That’s one sentence we never thought we’d publish.
Mark Holland, 63, became incensed after the nursing home staff prevented him from going shopping. In a series of logically progressing events, he then stripped off his clothes and began rampaging through the building.
Over his spree of destruction, Holland reportedly caused several thousand dollars’ worth of damage. Once the police arrived, they were forced to taser the enraged man — three times.
At that point, he retreated back into his room and he could be arrested.
He’s a tough guy for taking three taser shocks, if nothing else.
A Sophisticated Man, Usually
The bizarre events took place at the Belmar Nursing Home in Lytham St Annes on England’s western coast. For some time, Holland has been living there as a voluntary resident.
Back in his day, Holland was a respected opera baritone. He’s a graduate of London’s prestigious Royal College of Music and has performed to some acclaim on stages all over the world.
We’re just saying, he sounds like a fairly high-brow fellow.
Perhaps that’s why he was usually awarded a considerable degree of freedom at the nursing home. For example, he was usually allowed to go shopping in town when he felt like it.
On October 2, however, things were different. It appears that another one of Holland’s freedoms included indulging in alcoholic beverages.
Blackpool Magistrates Court heard in testimony that on the day, staff at Belmar denied Holland’s request to go shopping. They were concerned that the man had been “drinking too much,” according to The Independent.
Holland didn’t like that.
A Naked Rampage
According to prosecutor Pam Smith, Holland shut himself in his room after the staff told him he couldn’t go out. He didn’t stay in there for long.
Soon, he broke out into a loud song. He then emerged from his room buck naked, wielding a bow and metal-tipped arrows.
It’s not like he suddenly just conjured the medieval weapon out of thin air. The staff knew Holland kept the bow in his room and had often messed around with it together with the man.
This time, however, Holland wasn’t playing around. He threatened the staff with his bow, and they promptly decided to evacuate themselves and the rest of the residents to the building’s basement.
Left to his own devices, Holland’s hands grew idle and he decided to wreck the place. He reportedly smashed doors, set off fire extinguishers, and damaged visitors’ vehicles by tossing concrete blocks on them.
We’re not sure where he got the blocks, but based on his behavior we can only assume he ripped them off the foundation or something.
In total, Holland’s wanton destruction caused nearly $3,500 in damages.
Let Loose the Arrows
While hiding in the basement, the nursing home staff called the police. They quickly arrived, but the arrest didn’t exactly go smoothly.
The cops closed off the road leading to the home and practically sieged the building. They then brought in a professional negotiator as they were concerned Holland would attempt to take hostages.
Police constable Nicole Bennet testified in a statement, however, that the situation “escalated” quickly. She said Holland confronted her and three other officers while brandishing his bow and arrow.
The 63-year-old was reportedly aiming at the officers and let a (fortunately poorly aimed) arrow fly. Concerned for their safety, the cops decided it was time to put an end to this and they tasered the man.
And they did it again, and once more for safety.
You can’t really blame them, though, because Holland seemed to shrug off the taser shocks. It was only after the third hit that he grew stunned and returned to his room, locking the door.
The cops eventually broke in and arrested Holland.
At the court hearing, Holland’s defense said the man had recently lost his mother and had been depressed. He is now in prison custody, and he and his family feel he is getting the care he needs.
Holland has been ordered to repay the damages he caused to the home and vehicles, alongside compensating the nursing home staff for distress. We couldn’t find out whether he’s still living at the facility but somehow we doubt it.