Police watchdog probe over death of man

originally published:
9th April 2009

A police watchdog today announced it has launched an independent investigation into the death of a man who passed away after being arrested.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is to probe the death of Marcus Cottoy, 31, who died on Sunday March 22. He was arrested over suspected criminal damage at a pub in London Road, High Wycombe late on Saturday night and taken to Amersham Police Station at 00.45am on Sunday.

A decision was taken to section him under the Mental Health Act and Mr Cottoy, of Hawthorne Avenue, Micklefield, was taken to an NHS assessment centre at about 2pm.

While there his condition deteriorated, the IPCC said, and he was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury where he died at 4.44pm. The IPCC said a post mortem found three packages in his bowel, one of which contained white powder and had ruptured. There was “no evidence of an assault”, it said.

IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin said: “The death of a young man in these kind of circumstances can raise a range of concerns and it is important that Marcus’ family and the local community can feel confident that an independent investigation will take place.

Read full report >

IPCC Press Release >

Posted by Tippa Naphtali on 10/04/2009. Filed under Custody Deaths. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.