A man has died after being arrested by Met Police officers and being found unresponsive in his cell.
Mikias Tekeste, 30, was arrested on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs and taken to Croydon police station. CCTV footage reportedly shows him swallowing an unknown substance in the back of a police vehicle.
He was later found unwell in his cell and rushed to hospital where he died. Questions had been raised over whether Tekeste had died as a result of police negligence or an inappropriate level of force used in his arrest, but the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has ruled that the officers acted properly on the day of his death.
The IOPC said that the investigation is ongoing and that conclusions will be relayed to his Tekeste's family. A Met Police spokesperson told London Live: “Mr Tekeste was arrested on June 15 after officers found he had been recalled to prison. He was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
“He was transported to custody in Croydon in a police vehicle. On CCTV footage from inside the vehicle, that has been reviewed following Mr Tekeste's death, he can be seen to remove items from his clothing before swallowing them.
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“Later that evening, he was found unwell in his cell. He was given first aid, and an ambulance was called. He was taken to hospital where, despite the best efforts of medical teams, he sadly died.
“The IOPC have confirmed that their investigation has not identified any inappropriate police use of force.”
The IOPC launched an investigation into the behaviour of two officers, who were alleged to have not taken proper care of the prisoner. IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Mikias Tekeste. Our investigators have met with his family to inform them of this update.
“We are continuing to piece together the circumstances leading up to Mr Tekeste’s death, and we are reviewing the actions of MPS staff, beginning from his arrest in Croydon, to his transport to and subsequent detention in the custody suite. We have found no evidence of any inappropriate use of force during this period.
“At the end of our investigation, we will decide whether to refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and also determine whether any MPS staff should face disciplinary proceedings.”
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