A newly appointed president of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang died from a cocaine overdose while in police custody in Perth, a coronial inquest has found.
The Arrest and Collapse in Custody
Jamie Ginn, aged 50, was arrested at a Perth pool party on 10 October 2023 for allegedly breaching a firearms prevention order. He was taken to the Perth Watch House, where a registered nurse assessed him around 5pm. Following a strip search, Ginn was placed in a cell.
At approximately 6.53pm, officers discovered Ginn collapsed on his cell floor after he reportedly suffered a seizure. Despite frantic efforts by police and paramedics from St John WA, he was pronounced dead at 8.05pm.
Coroner's Findings and 'Poor' Supervision
State Coroner Michael Jenkin determined the cause of death was cocaine toxicity. However, the inquest could not establish precisely when or how Ginn ingested the illicit drug. Coroner Jenkin described the standard of supervision at the watch house as "poor."
He noted a critical delay, revealing it took the cell control officer 15 minutes to realise Ginn had collapsed. While the coroner stopped short of directly linking this delay to the death, he highlighted significant systemic failures.
Seven Recommendations for Reform
In response to the incident, Coroner Jenkin issued seven key recommendations aimed at preventing future tragedies. These include:
- A comprehensive review of staffing levels at the Perth Watch House.
- Consideration of introducing body scanner technology for detainees.
- Clearer definition of the cell control officer's role and responsibilities.
- Upgrades to CCTV and electronic monitoring systems within the facility.
The inquest, launched last month, has thrust procedures within Western Australia's custody facilities under intense scrutiny.
Ginn's History and Defiant Stance
At the time of his death, Ginn was facing court proceedings related to strict anti-bikie laws. In March 2023, he and two other gang members were convicted for flaunting outlawed gang tattoos under legislation introduced in 2021. The insignia, featuring a Confederate flag and a '1 per cent' patch, signifies rebellion against the law.
Following that ruling, Ginn publicly slammed the government, vowing never to remove his tattoos. "I'm not taking my tattoos off, they're staying," he told reporters, criticising what he perceived as misplaced governmental priorities.
WA Police confirmed the death was not treated as suspicious, with a report prepared for the Coroner by the Major Crime Division as per standard protocol.
