Man dies after struggle in east London shop following police chase

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 a 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 01.45am on Saturday.

Footage, recorded by a security camera and which has been shared on social media with the hashtag #JusticeForRash, appears to shows 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 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.

Tributes to Charles have been paid on social media with some comments critical of the actions of the police officer.

The convenience shop on Kingsland Road was open on Sunday and several floral tributes had been laid outside the barber shop next door.

The barber shop owner, Erem, who did not want to give his full name, said he had seen Charles, known as Rash, about 15 hours before he died. “He was a humble young man,” he said, “he was really known in the area.”

“He was very mature for his age. I’m in shock myself,” he said, adding he would often speak to the young man outside his shop.

In a statement, Simon Laurence, the Met’s borough commander for Hackney, said officers attempted to stop a car in the early hours of Saturday.

“A man, who was in the car, was pursued on foot before entering a shop where he was seen to be trying to swallow an object. He was then taken ill.He was taken to hospital by the London ambulance service where, sadly, he died later that morning. Our thoughts remains with family and friends.

“The IPCC has launched an independent investigation to establish what happened and has viewed the the officers’ body-worn video.

“There is likely to be speculation over the next few days regarding what led to this man becoming ill so I would encourage people to keep up to date with the IPCC’s statement, as and when they are released.

“All police officers are fully aware that they will be asked to account for their actions – officers are not exempt from the law and we would not wish to be.”

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.

“The IPCC declared an independent investigation at 3:10am and investigators were deployed to the scene and to the post-incident procedure. Initial accounts have been taken from a number of non-police eye witnesses who saw the incident, as well as the police officers involved.
“CCTV footage from inside the shop and police body worn video has been gathered and viewed.”

Police said next of kin had been informed and a postmortem would be held.

Investigators are keen to speak to any witnesses in the Kingsland Road/Middleton Road area of Hackney at the time. Witnesses should email witness.contact@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.