Probe into police handling of man's arrest
AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into how police handled the arrest of a man who fell seriously ill on Christmas Day and remains on life support at Derriford Hospital.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to manage an investigation into how Devon and Cornwall police dealt with a 40-year-old man who was arrested on Christmas Day 2009.
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The man, Audrius Tamosiunas, was arrested for breach of the peace and taken in to custody.
During the course of the day his condition deteriorated and he remains in hospital in a critical condition.
The man, a Lithuanian national, was arrested near Derriford Roundabout, at about 5.30pm on Christmas Day - he had been seen wandering in and out of traffic and attempting to gain access to a number of cars.
Officers were unable to communicate with the man as he was not able to speak English.
Some attempts were made to resolve language difficulties.
He was subsequently arrested for a breach of the peace and taken to Charles Cross police station.
Officers consulted health care practitioners and while waiting for a doctor to attend his condition deteriorated.
At 8.45pm a 999 call was made by police on the advice of the doctor and an ambulance transported the man to Derriford Hospital. The man remains in hospital on life support.
The IPCC investigation will look at:
* The care and treatment given to the man while in custody at Charles Cross police station;
* the force risk assessment relating to the man during his time in custody;
* records and CCTV of the treatment received and decisions taken while the man was in custody.
IPCC Commissioner Rebecca Marsh said "This is a sad case where a man remains in hospital fighting for his life. It is right that the IPCC manages an investigation in to the checks and welfare that he received while in the custody of Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. This investigation will look at the risk assessment and treatment he was given while in custody as well as the actions and decisions made at this time."
Mr Tamosiunas, from North Road East, underwent two emergency operations on his brain after doctors diagnosed bleeding inside his skull.
He had been at Derriford Hospital before his arrest but appeared to refuse treatment and left at 4pm.
He is understood to work in Millbay.
The case was referred to teh IPCC by police on Boxing Day and the board has now announced it will carry out a full investigation.
6 Comments
by Monica, Mutley
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 1:39PM
“The previous report indicated that the arresting officer had concerns for the man's medical welfare and that it took two hours at charles cross before it was judged necessary to rush him to hospital. Why didn't the custody sergeant send him there straight away or get him examined by police medical staff immediately?”
by RattamahatAL, Cattedown
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 12:59PM
“The IPCC are there to ascertain what happened. I'm not sure that it happens every time someone becomes ill or deteriorates in custody, but where there is a serious issue, it needs to be established that there is NO blame from the police.
Whilst in custody is the only time that his where-abouts and activity can be confirmed since he left hospital.
The IPCC can just as easily prove that there was nothing done wrong.”
by Dave, Crownhill
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 11:56AM
“Fed up with police bashing. You are absolutely right, what more could the police have done for this person at the time. I am not a great fan of the police at the moment, too much focus on the wrong issues, too much PC, no pun intended. The police would have been wrong not to have taken this gentleman into custody. just this once give the police a break.”
by Fed up with Police bashing, Plymouth
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 9:56AM
“It sounds as if this gentleman was doomed before the Police were even involved,thankfully he is in hospital albe extremely poorly but at least he wasn't found dead in the street by some passerby later the same day or next day
Sadly many of those who suffer head trauma and who don't exhibit any outward signs do appear as if they are inebriated and another element to this story is the fact that he could not speak English so how the hell are the police supposed to know. They called a Dr when he started to deterioate and he was transferred to hospital WHAT more could they have done considering all the circumstances”
by Cronos, The very depths of Hell
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 8:20AM
“Breeding inside his skull?!! Wow that is one hell of a medical condition!! Well done Herald on you yet again fantastic work.
Anyone who what "doctorsd" are as well?”
by bob, Plymouth
Wednesday, January 13 2010, 8:17AM
“I really hope there wasn't 'BREEDING' in his skull. Sounds painful.
Come on Herald, a serious matter like this and a couple major typo's?”