Police watchdog investigating after man dies during care home arrest

By Tess de la Mare, Reporter18th July 2022News EnglandCare Homes, Devon & Cornwall, News England, Older People, Residential Care, South West

The police watchdog is investigating after a man died during an arrest at a care home in Cornwall.

The 35-year-old man was detained after entering the Tregolls Manor care home in Truro (pictured) at around 2.30am on July 3, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said.

The IOPC said on Friday officers from Devon and Cornwall Police attempted to engage with the man, who lived locally, but after a brief interaction he was handcuffed to the front.

The man was allegedly threatened with a Taser during the incident, but witnesses have so far claimed it was not discharged, the IOPC said.

Officers involved said the handcuffs were removed and an ambulance called when the suspect became unwell, the IOPC said, with paramedics arriving at 2:49am.

The man, who was black, was pronounced dead at the scene a short time later.

The IOPC said its investigators had attended the scene of the death on the morning of the incident after Devon and Cornwall Police notified it of the incident.

The watchdog said: “Our investigation remains in its initial stages and will examine the full circumstances of the contact officers had with the man, including their use of force, the medical care they provided prior to the ambulance arriving, and whether officers acted in accordance with policy and procedures.

“We will also assess whether there is any evidence the man, who was black, was treated any differently because of his race.”

It said that so far the officers involved in the arrest were being treated as witnesses, and that evidence gathered so far suggested a Taser had been drawn, but not discharged.

It said the Taser in question would be analysed to confirm this account, and that IOPC investigators were analysing body worn video and CCTV footage from the care home.

A post-mortem conducted on July 11 proved to be inconclusive, it said, and that it was awaiting the results of further tests and a pathologists report.

David Ford, IOPC regional director, said: “I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the man’s family and everyone else affected by this tragic incident.

“We have spoken to family members to explain our role and how the investigation, which is in its early stages, will progress.

“It is appropriate in the circumstances of a death such as this that we investigate what happened, and I would like to reassure people that we will do so thoroughly and independently.”

He continued: “We will be carefully examining the interaction police officers had with the man and whether their actions were necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the situation they encountered.”