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Family says son died after being restrained by police who mistook epileptic seizure for violence | |
(5 days later) | |
Police pepper-sprayed an innocent man suffering an epileptic seizure and bundled him into a van without realising he was having a heart attack from which he never recovered, according to his devastated family. | Police pepper-sprayed an innocent man suffering an epileptic seizure and bundled him into a van without realising he was having a heart attack from which he never recovered, according to his devastated family. |
The 32-year-old, whose relatives wish to remain anonymous, is believed to have had cardiac arrest in the van and fell into a coma before dying two days later in hospital. | The 32-year-old, whose relatives wish to remain anonymous, is believed to have had cardiac arrest in the van and fell into a coma before dying two days later in hospital. |
Police attempted to revive the man when they realised he was unconscious. | Police attempted to revive the man when they realised he was unconscious. |
The man’s father, who did not want to be named, said his son had been spending his evening with his girlfriend and friends on Saturday in Haywards Heath, Sussex. | The man’s father, who did not want to be named, said his son had been spending his evening with his girlfriend and friends on Saturday in Haywards Heath, Sussex. |
When he fell into a complex partial seizure, a neighbour mistook his shouting for an argument and called the police. | When he fell into a complex partial seizure, a neighbour mistook his shouting for an argument and called the police. |
His aunt said the officers arrived while as their suspect walked out of the house into the garden, unaware of his surroundings – behaviour that was routine for her nephew and is well-known among epilepsy sufferers. | His aunt said the officers arrived while as their suspect walked out of the house into the garden, unaware of his surroundings – behaviour that was routine for her nephew and is well-known among epilepsy sufferers. |
She added: “He wandered out into the garden as the police arrived and they assumed he was violent. | She added: “He wandered out into the garden as the police arrived and they assumed he was violent. |
“His girlfriend told the police he was having a seizure, she shouted at them to stop, but they ignored her. | “His girlfriend told the police he was having a seizure, she shouted at them to stop, but they ignored her. |
“They tasered him twice and pushed him to the ground and three police officers sat on his chest to restrain him, at which point he had a heart attack. | “They tasered him twice and pushed him to the ground and three police officers sat on his chest to restrain him, at which point he had a heart attack. |
“But they didn’t realise and put him in the van.” | “But they didn’t realise and put him in the van.” |
They stopped the van in a nearby road and took the man out to administer CPR before an ambulance took him to the Princess Royal Hospital shortly after midnight on Sunday. | They stopped the van in a nearby road and took the man out to administer CPR before an ambulance took him to the Princess Royal Hospital shortly after midnight on Sunday. |
Relatives believe he had already gone into cardiac arrest and said he was unconscious in a coma until he died in hospital on Tuesday. | Relatives believe he had already gone into cardiac arrest and said he was unconscious in a coma until he died in hospital on Tuesday. |
Sussex Police denied tasers were used in the restraint but would not comment on other allegations, including that pepper spray was used. | Sussex Police denied tasers were used in the restraint but would not comment on other allegations, including that pepper spray was used. |
The force referred the investigation to the Independents Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which launched a witness appeal and has sent officials to examine the scene and take statements from the officers involved. | The force referred the investigation to the Independents Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which launched a witness appeal and has sent officials to examine the scene and take statements from the officers involved. |
A spokesman for the IPCC would not confirm details of the incident given by the family or that the man was suffering an epileptic seizure. | A spokesman for the IPCC would not confirm details of the incident given by the family or that the man was suffering an epileptic seizure. |
He said: “The nature of his interaction with the police and his restraint forms a central part of that investigation. | He said: “The nature of his interaction with the police and his restraint forms a central part of that investigation. |
“A post mortem has yet to be conducted so it is not possible to confirm a cause of death or establish a medical timeline.” | “A post mortem has yet to be conducted so it is not possible to confirm a cause of death or establish a medical timeline.” |
In a statement released on Tuesday, the watchdog said the man died after being restrained and “becoming unwell” in the police van but gave no further information on the condition. | In a statement released on Tuesday, the watchdog said the man died after being restrained and “becoming unwell” in the police van but gave no further information on the condition. |
The dead man's father said the family were unhappy with the restricted information released. | The dead man's father said the family were unhappy with the restricted information released. |
“He was already having the seizure and we feel they used excessive force when he was on the ground,” he added. | “He was already having the seizure and we feel they used excessive force when he was on the ground,” he added. |
“We feel that apart from our personal interest, there’s a huge public interest in this because it affects people with epilepsy and people with autism and other issues. | “We feel that apart from our personal interest, there’s a huge public interest in this because it affects people with epilepsy and people with autism and other issues. |
“We’re just trying to keep it together.” | “We’re just trying to keep it together.” |
Jennifer Izekor, commissioner of the IPCC, said the body’s thoughts were with his family and friends. | Jennifer Izekor, commissioner of the IPCC, said the body’s thoughts were with his family and friends. |
She added: “The IPCC will carry out a robust and thorough investigation into the circumstances and nature of his contact with the police, the events leading up to his becoming unwell and his hospitalisation.” | She added: “The IPCC will carry out a robust and thorough investigation into the circumstances and nature of his contact with the police, the events leading up to his becoming unwell and his hospitalisation.” |