Man ' badly hurt' near police van

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/merseyside/8437556.stm

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An incident in which a man was found with serious injuries outside a police van on Merseyside is being investigated by police watchdogs.

The 23-year-old, who is in a critical condition, had been detained in the van on suspicion of a drug offence outside a pub in Crosby on Friday morning.

The vehicle drove off then stopped. He was found in the street with a head wound and the van door was open.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has been informed.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said officers had been called to a disturbance near the the Yates's public house, known locally as The George.

The officers arrested and handcuffed two men at the scene, one on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly and the 23-year-old man on suspicion of possession of a controlled drug.

Incoherent and unresponsive

A third man ran away and was chased by officers to nearby De Villiers Avenue.

The driver of the police van, in which the 23-year-old had been detained, followed to provide support.

Police said that when the van came to a halt the driver saw that the man was lying on the ground next to the vehicle and that the sliding door of the van was open.

He was conscious and breathing, but was incoherent and unresponsive, officers said.

An ambulance was called and the man, from the Waterloo area, was taken to hospital in Fazakerley.

He has since been transferred to Walton Neurological Centre where his condition is described as "critical". His family have been informed.

The second prisoner was taken to a local police station, along with the third man also arrested by patrol officers. No-one else was injured during the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.