Taxi Driver Online

Nothing to do with the driver, but obviously an interesting case from the trade angle - the taxi was stopped and searched, and the passenger arrested

Could only be in the Echo, though...

And spot the deliberate mistake. Or sniff it out, maybe


Dad collapsed and died hours after being arrested in back of taxi in Anfield

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/li ... r-34786478

David Brown told his girlfriend he had swallowed 10 bags of cocaine after he was stopped by police

A dad who was detained by police collapsed and died just hours after being released without charge. David Brown, 41, 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.

His inquest began at Liverpool and Wirral Coroners Court today, Monday October 19. Opening the case, 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."

David collapsed and suffered an apparent seizure

At the police station, the strip search was a 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.

What the inquest heard from the pathologist

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.

https://i2-prod.liverpoolecho.co.uk/art ... -brown.jpg

nearly every story we see online recently about the trade in scouseland seems to involve drugs

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Live by the sword.

Die by the sword.

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IDFIMH

Haven't bothered with the rehashed stuff here.

But, guess what? If the police had acted correctly then this poor victim wouldn't have died

Wasn't going to bother with the 'David brought joy, laughter and energy' stuff at the end either, but they've used that to blame the police


Conclusion in inquest of dad who died after taxi stopped by police in Anfield

ttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... d-34809280

David Brown was described as a 'devoted' and 'hands-on' father with a 'larger than life personality'

Jury makes ruling on death

On the final day of David's inquest at Liverpool Coroners' Court today, Friday (October 23), a jury concluded with a finding of misadventure, the unintended outcome of a deliberate act.
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Coroner David Lewis said he would send a Prevention of Future Deaths report likely to Merseyside Police and possibly the College of Policing, raising concerns about training after officers expressed they did not feel their training equipped them to deal with the situation.

Earlier this week, the inquest heard David had been stopped and searched under section 23 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, however, this was not the same as being placed under arrest.
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The court heard police had a responsibility to seek appropriate medical attention for an arrested person in an emergency. However David was not placed under arrest, and the officers did not think he needed urgent care as he told them he had swallowed only a cocaine wrapper, having sniffed the contents beforehand.

In a pen portrait read out at the inquest, David's niece Siobhan Doolin described him as a "devoted" and "hands-on" father with a "larger than life personality", which helped him build a successful career working in a call centre where he was awarded employee of the month.
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On the day of his death, David was travelling as a passenger in a taxi on Priory Road in Anfield when police officers pulled the vehicle over and conducted a search on him because they suspected he may have been in possession of drugs.

Witnesses told the inquest they saw David being physically restrained by police officers who appeared to be searching for something in David's mouth. Accounts from police officers also recounted David being physically restrained in an attempt to check his mouth.
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The inquest heard that a police officer hit David with “dynamic strikes” on the back during the search, which was also seen by witnesses.

Dr Medcalf said he found a number of grazes and bruises on David's body, but that these did not contribute to his death.

'David brought joy, laughter and energy into every room he entered'

Following the conclusion of the inquest, David’s family issued a statement through their legal team at law firm Leigh Day. His sister Leeann Doolin said: "David, or Brownie to those close to him, was a much-loved central point in our family, who brought joy, laughter and energy into every room he entered.

"He had a larger than life personality and a natural ability to build rapport with almost anybody, and above all was a devoted father who loved spending time with his children.

"We are grateful to the jury for taking the time to carefully examine the information and circumstances around David's death. While this inquest has required us to reflect on the circumstances surrounding David's death, these circumstances do not define the person he was.

"We feel there is a gap in the duties the police have towards a person detained for the purpose of a search when it is suspected that drugs have been swallowed.

"David's loss has left a huge gap in the lives of our family, and all those who knew and cared for him. Words cannot truly capture how much he is missed.

“We are eternally grateful to our barrister, Kate Stone, for giving David and the whole family a voice in this process.”

David’s family were represented by INQUEST Lawyer’s Group members, Leanne Devine and Emily Driver of Leigh Day, who instructed Ms Stone of Garden Court North chambers.

Ms Devine said: "We are grateful to the coroner and the jury for their consideration and examination of the circumstances surrounding David's death.

"Whilst it is acknowledged by David’s family that the use of force and restraint used by Merseyside Police during the stop and search did not contribute to his death, they remain significantly concerned about the manner in which the stop and search was conducted.

"The family were also concerned about the application of welfare policies to individuals who have been handcuffed and detained for the purpose of stop and search, but not formally arrested, given that David was not taken to hospital for medical treatment.

"The family feel that given the circumstances, police should have been alert to the risk to David’s health and sought avenues for medical treatment."