David Brown, 41, collapsed and died just hours after being released without charge following his arrest in Anfield. The father told his girlfriend he had swallowed 10, £30 bags of cocaine to conceal them from officers after the taxi he was riding in was pulled over on Priory Road, Anfield, on August 8 2024.
Arrest and Detention
Opening the case at Liverpool and Wirral Coroners Court on Monday October 19, coroner David Lewis said: "That morning David was travelling as a passenger in a taxi when two Merseyside Police officers required the taxi to stop. They conducted a search because they suspected he had drugs concealed on him.
"During their conducted search with David, the officers suspected he had something in his mouth. They asked him to spit it out, but nothing was spat out.
"David was detained by officers under the Misuse of Drugs Act and taken to St Anne Street police station for a strip search. While travelling to the police station, David advised officers he had swallowed a wrapper, having sniffed the contents."
Collapse and Death
At the police station, the strip search was negative and David was released without charge. He took a taxi to his girlfriend's house in Anfield, where he told her he had swallowed ten £30 value 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, just three minutes after they were called, and David was taken by ambulance to Royal Liverpool Hospital in a state of cardiac arrest.
Medics used a mechanical CPR device, and resuscitation efforts continued for around one hour after arriving at the hospital. But David could not be revived, and was pronounced dead at 2.30pm that day, August 8 2024.
Pathologist's Evidence
Giving evidence, pathologist Dr Jonathan Medcalf said: "I was given a summary of the circumstances that preceded his arrest. David was stopped while in a taxi and spoken to by police officers.
"His eyes appeared dilated and he was described as having white powder under his noise. It was suspected that he had attempted to swallow drugs. He was detained and taken into custody for a further search.
"On review of the police body worn footage, an officer was heard to shout 'spit the drugs out', and he was leaned forwards in order to try to empty his mouth.
"The taxi was searched but no substances were found and David was taken to St Anne Street police station for a strip search which also proved negative.
"David had not resisted arrest and was compliant with being detained. Handcuffs were used but no other methods of detainment were used."
He said: "In the oesophagus I found a reddish brown fluid, and within the lower half of the gullet there was a piece of plastic film with a tied end, which in my experience was suspicious of a drugs wrapper. It appeared collapsed and ruptured."
A toxicology test found David had high levels of cocaine in his system, 11mg per deciliter. He also had levels of alcohol, benzoylecgonine (a breakdown of cocaine), and cocaethylene (produced when cocaine and alcohol are consumed at the same time).
Dr Medcalf said: "The toxicologist gave a summary of the findings and they said that the cocaine level was high and within the range associated with fatalities from cocaine in isolation."
He said the cause of death was cocaine toxicity. The inquest continues.
