Investigators have said a suspect who died after a clash with police had swallowed a plastic wrap containing paracetamol and caffeine, as supporters of the officer involved said he was trying to save the suspect’s life, not brutalise him.



Rashan Charles 20, died in Hackney, east London, after a chase with police on 22 July.

Video of the incident appeared to show him swallowing a package, leading to speculation it contained illegal drugs. Tests have shown it was not.

The investigation into the incident is being carried out by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which said a package was recovered from his airway by paramedics. “Given the inflammatory nature of some ongoing speculation, [we] will confirm that the package consisted of a mixture of paracetamol and caffeine wrapped in plastic. At this stage we have not been provided with a confirmed cause of death for Rashan and our investigation is ongoing,” it said.

Investigators will consider whether Charles’s death was caused by the plastic wrapping, rather than the contents. The IPCC inquiry will also examine the restraint used by police and whether that played a part in the cause of death. The inquiry will examine what technique of restraint was used and whether it was authorised.

Ken Marsh, the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which is representing the officer, said: “My colleague tried to preserve life and help him, thinking he may have swallowed dangerous drugs. This happened in a fraction of a second; the officer had to make a decision.

“If it was crack [the suspect had swallowed] and the officer was filmed doing nothing as a guy choked to death, he also would be criticised.”

Last Friday, protests over the death led to some violent scenes in Hackney.

In the IPCC statement, the commissioner overseeing the investigation, Cindy Butts, said: “Since the tragic death of Rashan Charles ….there has been much public speculation and anger. Rashan’s family have appealed for calm, while we undertake our important work. I would echo their appeal and reassure the public that our investigation will consider every shred of available evidence.”

Of the circumstances of the death, the IPCC has said: “The evidence analysed so far indicates that Mr Charles was detained by an MPS officer who had followed him on foot into a shop on Kingsland Road after an earlier attempted vehicle stop.

“The officer restrained Mr Charles, with assistance from a member of the public, and he was handcuffed. After he was detained, attempts were made to remove an object from his mouth or throat. His condition deteriorated.”

Charles’s contact with police was at around 1.45am and he was pronounced dead 70 minutes later at the Royal London hospital.

The officer concerned is being treated as a witness by the IPCC investigation, not a suspect, as is the member of the public who helped in efforts to detain Charles.

Charles’s death and the resulting violent reaction has echoes of the death of Mark Duggan, who was shot by officers in 2011 in Tottenham, leading to the worst riots in modern English history.

On Friday, the sixth anniversary of Duggan’s controversial death will be marked by a vigil and protest outside a police station in Tottenham, north London.

The shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, warned of growing disquiet over the Charles case after the IPCC announced on Wednesday he had not been carrying illegal drugs at the time he was detained.

Abbott, the MP for Hackey North and Stoke Newington, said: “The IPCC’s update, coupled with the release of a Metropolitan police report highlighting a disproportionate use of force against BME (black and minority ethnic) people, will no doubt cause deep concern and upset. Urgent work must be done to rebuild trust and links between the police and the community.”