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Inquest: Inappropriate Restraint Contributed to Death
19 Dec
Summary
- Jury finds inappropriate restraint likely contributed to man's death.
- Man died from cocaine effects, restraint, and scarred heart.
- Police failed to treat situation as medical emergency.
A jury has determined that the way police officers restrained Robert Gracey in the back of a van "probably contributed to his death." The 39-year-old, who died in September 2021, succumbed to the effects of cocaine, restraint, and a pre-existing heart condition. The inquest revealed that officers failed to treat his situation as a medical emergency, despite him becoming unresponsive.
During the proceedings, body-worn camera footage showed Mr. Gracey being restrained and placed into the police vehicle. One officer admitted to punching him twice to distract him during his resistance. The jury found the initial garden restraint reasonable but the force used to place him in the van "highly inappropriate," alongside an unacceptable lack of dedicated monitoring.
Further findings indicated a missed opportunity to transfer Mr. Gracey to A&E for potentially life-saving intervention. The jury also critiqued police training on Acute Behavioural Disturbance, stating it had been insufficient. Mr. Gracey's wife expressed heartbreak over the violence and names used against her husband in his final moments.
