Police say they are “reassured” by a coroner’s findings at the end of a 19-day inquest into the death of Eaglescliffe dad-of-two Kirk Williams.
A narrative verdict was recorded at the end of the inquest at Teesside Coroner’s Court. Mr Williams died in police custody on April 17, 2011, hours after he was seen naked in an Eaglescliffe field acting as if a “demon” was on him. And reacting to the end of the inquest, Cleveland Police’s head of professional standards, Superintendent John Green, said the force was “reassured that the coroner was satisfied that nothing our officers did when dealing with Mr Williams had contributed to his death.”
The inquest earlier heard how Mr Williams, 26, of Beechwood Road, Eaglescliffe, was spotted in a field behind the Moorhouse estate at about 11am acting strangely. Assistant coroner Sam Foulks said Mr Williams, who was an asbestos remover, had taken a variety of drugs the night before his death.
He was taken by police to Middlesbrough Police Station, but only after another officer had first indicated to the communications room he should be taken straight to hospital.
At the police station, a doctor subsequently advised a transfer to hospital. An ambulance with Mr Williams in it left for the hospital at 12.56pm but by 2.32pm he was pronounced dead at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
Supt Green said: “Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Mr Williams for the loss of their loved one in these tragic circumstances.
“Our police officers are faced with some extremely complex and difficult situations in which they must make instant decisions to protect individuals and the wider public.
“The inquest heard that Mr Williams had taken a number of illegal substances before the situation which led to officers being called and his subsequent arrest.
“Responding to a difficult set of circumstances, officers made decisions in good faith about the most appropriate place of safety for Mr Williams, taking into account that healthcare professionals are available in police custody, his unpredictable behaviourand the risk to himself and the wider public should he be taken to hospital.
“Immediately following his death, we referred ourselves to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), who have completed their own investigation into the policing element of this case and we look forward to the publication of their findings.
“We are reassured that the coroner was satisfied that nothing our officers did when dealing with Mr Williams had contributed to his death. We will assess any recommendations in more detail as part of our commitment to understanding and learning from this tragic case.”
An IPCC spokesman said its report into Cleveland’s handling of the case would be published soon, now the inquest has concluded.
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