Another Death In State Custody
@ | 07.04.2011 15:53 | Birmingham
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A FATHER of two from Birmingham has died following contact with police, two weeks after the death of reggae singer Smiley Culture.
Kingsley Burrell Brown, 29, of Hockley, was picked up by West Midlands Police on March 27 and admitted into Mary Seacole mental institute, where his family say he was not allowed to speak to them.
He was later transferred, on March 30, to a mental health facility at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
When he arrived at Mary Seacole, Brown alleged he had been beaten up by the police. When he arrived at the second hospital he was in a critical condition. His family believe he was also beaten en route to the hospital.
Brown was pronounced dead yesterday (March 31) afternoon. His family said the coroner contacted them this morning and has not been able to provide a reason for his death.
Speaking exclusively to The Voice, Kingsley Brown’s sister Kadisha, 27, said: “My brother was in a gangland area and he called the police because he was with his five-year-old son and was worried for their safety. He had seen some men he believed were out to get him.
“He was a lovely person, not the sort of person to be involved in trouble; he has just completed his security training course.
“He called the police, but when they came they said he was paranoid. However, CCTV footage proves otherwise. He was taken to a mental hospital and en route he was beaten up by the police, and his son witnessed it. His son told us that the police beat his dad.
“When I went to see him he had three massive bumps and a swelling to the head and the brain.
“The only reason they allowed us to see him is because we insisted. After this visit he was refused the right to see us and later taken to Queen Elizabeth hospital, where he was put on life support machine.
She added: “We are taking it further and we are not letting this slide without a fight. My innocent brother’s life has been taken. He was not a criminal; he was a good father and a working man. He called the police for help but he died in their hands.
“We want justice.”
His grief-stricken mother Janet Brown, 50, added: “I don’t know why the police took him there. He has never suffered with mental health issues. What they have done to my son, I don’t know. I’m studying criminology and I never expected this to happen to my one and only son. You have good police and bad police, the ones who have done this to my son are pure evil.”
In response to Brown’s death, Maxie Hayles, chairman of the Birmingham Racial Attacks Monitoring Unit, said: “The West Midlands Police have got a lot of questions to answer and we want an open and transparent investigation by the IPCC into the death of this young man. We will leave no stone unturned until we get to the root of it, to see that justice is done.”
West Midlands Police said in statement: ‘We can confirm that we are investigating the circumstances surrounding the hospitalisation of a man with a serious medical condition following dealings with the police.
‘At approximately 1.30pm on Sunday, 27 March, officers were alerted – by the ambulance service – to reports of a man being threatened with a firearm. When officers attended the address on Icknield Port Road, they discovered a 29-year-old man in an agitated state.
‘Initial enquiries indicated that no firearms offences had occurred. The man was detained under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital. Three days later (Wednesday, 30 March), officers were called to a mental health facility in the Winson Green area of Birmingham, following reports of a man threatening staff with improvised weapons.
‘The man was restrained and transferred to hospital. He was then placed under hospital care and became critically ill some time later.
‘As is routine in such circumstances, the matter will be referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission for assessment, as the man had previously been dealt with by police.’
An IPCC spokesman later told The Voice in a statement: ‘The IPCC is to independently investigate contact between West Midlands Police and a 29-year-old man who died on Thursday, 31 March, 2011...
‘An independent investigation has begun. The IPCC is in the process of contacting the family to arrange meeting them to explain our role and the scope of our investigation.’
Sue Turner, chief executive of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust told The Voice in a statement: ‘There will be a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a 29-year-old man, who was detained under the Mental Health Act, on Wednesday (March 30).
‘The trust will assist and support any other inquiries arising from this tragic incident, and we are seeking relevant information from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, West Midlands Ambulance Service, in conjunction with the police inquiry to ensure that we can gain a full, factual picture of what happened during this incident.
‘Clearly, this is a very unusual set of circumstances. Peter Lewis, our medical director, today met with the man’s family for the first of what will be regular meetings to work closely with the family and keep them informed as our investigation unfolds.
‘Our thoughts go out to the family at this difficult time.’
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Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
the police are out of control
07.04.2011 20:31
anon
reality check
08.04.2011 06:10
The on route stuff, well how about this, shall we wait to find out what happened or shall we leave it to those who wernt there and have an axe to grind.
So after we take out the fact that he was never in a cell and was under medical attention throughout, oh and due to someone complaining there arnt CCTV in the ambulances
what do we have?
opinion, if you have an open mind as to stuff and judge on the merrits of ballence then you will wait and see what more evidence comes to light, if however you hate the cops you will instantly find them guilty, whatever the truth, allegation is not truth
I want truth not opinion laced with hate
anon by right
Reality check for Reality Check
08.04.2011 10:01
How can such instances of mysterious deaths occur following police contact? How come black people are disproportionately affected by deaths following police contact? Why has there never been a single conviction of a police officer following such deaths? Why are dangerous restraint techniques still lawful?
Remember, if phone footage had not been available of the police assaulting Ian Tomlinson, his death would probably have been brushed under the carpet and his family would not have been in a position to have their barristers challenge police evidence at his inquest.
I would also like to mention the absolute scandal of suicides in prison, although it may not be strictly relevant. Three people have died in prison in the past week - one of whom was just 18 years of age. Why are people at risk of self-harm basically allowed to kill themselves in prison? Are they just collateral damage in the state's obsession with mass incarceration?
Much sympathy for the families of all who die following police contact or in custody (including in psychiatric custody).
Bob
@bob
11.04.2011 15:05
the IPCC will not conduct a truly independent investigation
-Why not,define indipendant, you running it?
Time and again such investigations have amounted to a whitewash.
-You called it, please provide proof, not opinion, not conjecture real proof the the IPCC have falsified the results of the case.
I'd advise the family to get hold of a good solicitor immediately in order to obtain crucial evidence before it is conveniently 'lost'.
-Abosolutly, couldnt agree more.
How can such instances of mysterious deaths occur following police contact?
-a "mysterious death" what is this the Xfiles, try examining what constitutes police detention, sort of explains the figures.
How come black people are disproportionately affected by deaths following police contact?
-Good question, again try examining the causes of the death, I did, the reoccuring feature was drugs.
Why has there never been a single conviction of a police officer following such deaths?
-REALLY best check that one friend
Why are dangerous restraint techniques still lawful?
-Define dangerous, everything to do with restraint is dangerous to a point, its all about minimaliseing the danger, you should see what ambulance staff have to do.
Remember, if phone footage had not been available of the police assaulting Ian Tomlinson, his death would probably have been brushed under the carpet and his family would not have been in a position to have their barristers challenge police evidence at his inquest.
-yeah, good point, thats why we all need to have cameras at demos, cops and us, keeps everyone honest
I would also like to mention the absolute scandal of suicides in prison.
- sorry but what? I mean why not link in the war or animal testing, be more relevant.
although it may not be strictly relevant.
-See
Three people have died in prison in the past week - one of whom was just 18 years of age. Why are people at risk of self-harm basically allowed to kill themselves in prison?
-Allowed....psycotic mood change can effect anyone at any time, unless you live in hindsite world these things happen, please if you can find a way of determining a perfect world then crack on
Are they just collateral damage in the state's obsession with mass incarceration?
-Mass encarceration....the only thing that hems me in is the health and safety exec who have to try and dumb down society for the witless.
Much sympathy for the families of all who die following police contact or in custody (including in psychiatric custody)
- so we will be seeing you on the wards soon then, helping out the understaffed teams dealing with drug and drink inspired psycosis? thourght not. think then open mouth
anon by right