A 20-year-old man has died after being chased and apprehended by police in east London. The man, named locally as Rashan Charles, was allegedly seen trying to swallow an object before being taken ill, and was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating. The Metropolitan Police said the man was followed on foot after officers tried to stop a car in Kingsland Road, Hackney, at 01:45 BST on Saturday.
Footage from a security camera, shared on social media with the hashtag #JusticeForRash, appears to show a young black man entering a shop pursued by a uniformed police officer. The film shows a struggle on the floor, and the man appears to put his hand to his mouth. As another man, in plain clothes, is seen helping the officer, the man they are attempting to arrest is seen lying on the floor handcuffed with his hands behind his back.
Scotland Yard said the officer “intervened and sought to prevent the man from harming himself”. Paramedics were called and before they arrived police officers – including a medic – provided first aid, the Met said.
The IPCC said: “The man became unwell and first aid was provided by a police officer, police medic and paramedics. The IPCC has obtained evidence which indicates an object was removed from his throat at the scene. The man was then transported to the Royal London Hospital, where he sadly died soon afterwards.”
Campaigners from Hackney Stand Up To Racism announced a vigil outside Stoke Newington police station from 6pm on Monday amid “concerns” about the circumstances leading to Charles’s death. Police said next of kin had been informed and a postmortem would be held.
