Young Father Dies Moments After Police Handcuffing During Street Disturbance
A 25-year-old father tragically passed away shortly after being restrained in handcuffs by police officers during a street disturbance in Staffordshire. Joshua Cooper, from Biddulph, collapsed and died within minutes of the handcuffing incident, which occurred late on March 26 last year.
Erratic Behaviour and Police Response
Witnesses reported seeing Joshua Cooper behaving erratically on Lawton Street in Biddulph before he entered the property of an elderly resident on neighbouring Kingswood Road. Police were called to the scene following concerns about his bizarre actions.
Upon arrival, officers found Joshua "under a pile of bricks" and heard him making growling noises while resisting their attempts to assist him. According to testimony presented at the inquest, he subsequently collapsed to his knees in a prayer-like position and passed away shortly thereafter.
Attending officer PC Lawton stated in evidence: "I assessed that I may encounter a man who may be very volatile and unwilling to cooperate. We approached and identified ourselves as police. We asked him what he was doing and gave him a hand to get out."
Independent Investigation Findings
The Independent Office for Police Conduct launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Joshua's death, as he died while interacting with police officers. However, the review concluded that Staffordshire Police officers "acted appropriately and in line with policy."
Patrick Cragg, who oversaw the IOPC review, informed the inquest that officers requested ambulance attendance within 90 seconds of seeing Mr. Cooper, suspecting he was suffering from an acute behavioural disturbance. "Both officers believed it was imperative to quickly ascertain what drugs he had taken to reduce the risk to his health," Cragg stated.
Evidence presented showed that officers used their common law powers to handcuff Joshua within a minute of their arrival on the scene, citing concerns that he could be a threat to himself or others. The handcuffs were removed at 11:35pm when a member of the public noticed Joshua's lips had turned blue, allowing CPR to be administered.
Drug Dependency and Medical Findings
Joshua's partner submitted a statement revealing he had been battling a long-standing cocaine dependency. "I only became aware of his addiction last year," she stated. "He hid it really well. I told him I needed him to stop for the kids."
On the night of his death, she reported speaking to him on the phone and noticing his eyes "were wired and almost black." He had become threatening and aggressive during their conversation, prompting her to block his number and seek safety at her parents' house.
Forensic pathologist Dr. Brett Lockyer determined that Joshua died from cocaine intoxication combined with pre-existing coronary artery disease. He noted that Joshua's heart problems were most likely caused by his cocaine use over time.
Coroner's Verdict and Family Impact
Coroner Emma Serrano accepted Dr. Lockyer's medical cause of death and ruled that Joshua suffered a drug-related death. "If he had not taken cocaine that night, he would not have passed away," she stated during the inquest proceedings.
The coroner extended her sincerest condolences to Joshua's family, acknowledging the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of the young father-of-two. The case highlights the complex challenges police face when responding to incidents involving individuals under the influence of powerful substances.
Despite the tragic outcome, the independent investigation found no misconduct by the responding officers, who followed established procedures while attempting to manage a volatile situation involving a person experiencing acute behavioural disturbance.
