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A FATHER of two was “deeply disturbed” shortly before his death at a police station after being restrained by officers, an inquest heard today.
CCTV footage from Luton police station in 2013, played to the hearing, showed Leon Briggs, 39, screaming and shouting for several minutes before falling silent, prompting staff to call an ambulance.
Acting Sergeant Loren Short, one of the Bedfordshire Police officers who carried out the restraint, was accused of making the wrong decision in taking Mr Briggs straight to the police station, the inquest jury was told.
Acting Sgt Short was also questioned about his treatment of Mr Briggs prior to his arrival at the police station, with one witness claiming he was lifted into a police van “like a dog.”
Lorry driver Mr Briggs was detained in Marsh Road, Luton, under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act at around 2pm on November 4 2013, before being taken to custody in handcuffs and leg restraints.
He was pronounced dead hours later in hospital, with senior coroner Emma Whitting concluding that he died of “amphetamine intoxication in association with prone restraint and prolonged struggling,” with a secondary cause of heart disease.
The inquest continues.
