A jury has concluded that the death of David Brown, a 41-year-old father who died after swallowing cocaine bags when the taxi he was in was stopped by police in Anfield, was a misadventure, the unintended outcome of a deliberate act.
Brown told his girlfriend he had swallowed the bags of cocaine to conceal them from police after the taxi was pulled over on Priory Road, Anfield, on August 21, 2024. He was detained and taken to St Anne Street police station, and was released without charge after a strip search found nothing.
He then took a taxi to his girlfriend's house in Anfield, where he told her he had swallowed 10 £30 bags of cocaine and complained of feeling ill. He asked her to call an ambulance before collapsing and suffering an apparent seizure. Emergency services arrived at 12.42pm, and Brown was taken by ambulance to the Royal Liverpool Hospital in a state of cardiac arrest. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful, and he died at 2.30pm that day.
Pathologist Finds Cocaine Toxicity
Pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf found high levels of cocaine in his system, along with "a piece of plastic film with a tied end", which he suspected was a drugs wrapper, in his esophagus. He reported his cause of death was cocaine toxicity.
On the final day of the inquest at Liverpool Coroner's Court today (Friday, October 23), a jury concluded with a finding of misadventure. Coroner David Lewis said he would send a Prevention of Future Deaths report likely to Merseyside Police and possibly the College of Policing, raising concerns about training after officers expressed they did not feel their training equipped them to deal with the situation.
Stop and Search Details
Earlier this week, the inquest heard Brown had been stopped and searched under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, however, this was not the same as being placed under arrest. The court heard police had a responsibility to seek appropriate medical attention for an arrested person in an emergency. However, Brown was not placed under arrest, and the officers did not think he needed urgent care as he told them he had swallowed only a cocaine wrapper, having sniffed the contents beforehand.
Witnesses told the inquest they saw Brown being physically restrained by police officers who appeared to be searching for something in his mouth. Accounts from police officers also recounted Brown being physically restrained in an attempt to check his mouth. The inquest heard that a police officer hit Brown with "dynamic strikes" on the back during the search, which was also seen by witnesses. Dr Medcalf said he found a number of grazes and bruises on Brown's body, but that these did not contribute to his death.
Family Statement
Following the conclusion of the inquest, Brown's family issued a statement through their legal team at law firm Leigh Day. His sister Leeann Doolin said: "David, or Brownie to those close to him, was a much-loved central point in our family, who brought joy, laughter and energy into every room he entered."
"He had a larger than life personality and a natural ability to build rapport with almost anybody, and above all was a devoted father who loved spending time with his children. We are grateful to the jury for taking the time to carefully examine the information and circumstances around David's death. While this inquest has required us to reflect on the circumstances surrounding David's death, these circumstances do not define the person he was."
"We feel there is a gap in the duties the police have towards a person detained for the purpose of a search when it is suspected that drugs have been swallowed. David's loss has left a huge gap in the lives of our family, and all those who knew and cared for him. Words cannot truly capture how much he is missed. We are eternally grateful to our barrister, Kate Stone, for giving David and the whole family a voice in this process."
Brown's family were represented by INQUEST Lawyer's Group members, Leanne Devine and Emily Driver of Leigh Day, who instructed Ms Stone of Garden Court North chambers. Ms Devine said: "We are grateful to the coroner and the jury for their consideration and examination of the circumstances surrounding David's death."
"Whilst it is acknowledged by David's family that the use of force and restraint used by Merseyside Police during the stop and search did not contribute to his death, they remain significantly concerned about the manner in which the stop and search was conducted." The family were also concerned about the application of welfare policies to individuals who have been handcuffed and detained for the purpose of stop and search, but not formally arrested, given that Brown was not taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The family feel that given the circumstances, police should have been alert to the risk to David's health and sought avenues for medical treatment.
