The police watchdog is investigating excessive use of force after a young father fleeing police died after he was wrestled to the floor by an officer.

Scotland Yard said the 20-year-old man, named by his family as Rashan Jermaine Charles, was trying to 'swallow an object' and an officer was trying to prevent him from harming himself.

Footage of the arrest when viral across the internet after a friend of the family shared it, late last night. It shows the moments that followed after Mr Charles ran into the store, in Kingsland Road, east London at 1.45am yesterday morning after failing to stop for police.

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The man has been named locally as Rashan Charles, a 20-year-old man from London

In footage obtained by MailOnline an officer appears to restrain Mr Charles on the floor of the shop, in Kingsland Road, east London, at 1.45am on Saturday

At the beginning of the footage obtained by MailOnline, Mr Charles can be seen walking into the shop before an officer attempts to arrest him.

He is wrestled to the floor as he appears to try to swallow an item. The policeman can be seen holding his hand briefly over the Mr Charles' mouth.

As the suspect struggles on the floor, a bystander in to help the policeman with the arrest. After they put the handcuffs on, it appears the man has stopped breathing and the officer removes his hat as he radios for help.

Moments later, two more officers arrive on the scene and the video is cut off.

Police and the IPCC said the man was pronounced dead at the Royal London Hospital but would not comment on whether he stopped breathing beforehand.

A force spokesman said the Independent Police Complaint's Commission was now investigating.

Tributes have been pouring in for Mr Charles, with a family friend saying he was visiting his grandmother just moments before the incident.

Devastated: Friends and family gathered outside the shop in Hackney this afternoon following Mr Charles' death

Today friends and family have gathered at the scene in Hackney to lay flowers and to mourn the loss of a man they say 'never out to harm anyone,'.

Speaking this afternoon, the mother of his daughter Jada, 19, said: 'He was a really good guy. Obviously everyone has their ups and downs but he was never out to harm anyone. But he was a good guy.

'He was close to all his family and close to all his friends. You trust officers, and that's what they do, they take lives.'

She added that he and his mother had been shot in an attack earlier this year and he had been injured in the leg while his mum had been shot in the head.

She said: 'I first met him from the area. I knew him from the area during school days and he was a funny guy. We actually met when I tripped up. 'I was on roller skates and I tripped up and he laughed at me and we just started talking.'

A friend of Rashan, who came down to the scene said he has two younger sisters and a younger brother. He said: 'This family has been through so much, and now they have lost him. It's a lot for them to go through.

A family friend said Mr Charles had been visiting his grandmother just hours before the the incident. Pictured above, grieving friends at the scene in east London

He also said Rashan had been the 'victim of police harassment' with stop and search.

Family friend Shirley Watkis told MailOnline the footage appearing to show Rashan's final moments was leaked and distributed by friends.

'If this wasn't released, we never would have known what happened. It went viral, it's been everywhere, otherwise this would have been covered up and we would have believed them,' she said.

Having known Rashan nearly all his life, Ms Watkis described him as 'respectful'.

'Like every young man he could be challenging but he was always respectful and showed so much respect to me,' she added.

Ms Wakis announced the news online yesterday, writing: 'To all my Facebook friends and family, it is with great sadness I announce the death of 20-year-old Rashan Charles after being stopped by police in Hackney in the early hours of this morning.

'The family is so shocked and in disbelief because he only just left his grandmother's house to return home after a visit. Within a short while he was dead.

'The police complaint's authority is dealing with it. Please pray for his family.'

This evening around 20 friends gathered outside the convenience store.

Tragic: A friend of Mr Charles lighting a candle outside the convenience shop on Kingsland Road

Tribute: Another friend adds a bouquet of flowers to the make-shift bowl placed by the shop's entrance

Tributes: A family friend posted a tribute to Rashan on Facebook following the tragic news

Tonight police chiefs urged the public to follow the progress of the IPCC's investigation amid fears of mounting speculation.

The Met's chief superintendent Simon Laurence, borough commander for Hackney: 'A man, who was in the car, was pursued on foot before entering a shop where he was seen to be trying to swallow an object. He was then taken ill.

'He was taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service where, sadly, he died later that morning. Our thoughts remain with his family and friends.'

Supt Laurence said the officer's body camera was being reviewed by the IPCC.

He added: 'There is likely to be speculation over the next few days regarding what led to this man becoming ill, so I would encourage people to keep up-to-date with the IPCC's statements, as and when they are released.

'All police officers are fully aware that they will be asked to account for their actions - officers are not exempt from the law and we would not wish to be.'

In the clip, the policeman appears to be locked in a struggle with the man when a bystander joins in to help. Shortly after they appear to realise he is no longer breathing

A force spokesman said the Independent Police Complaint's Commission was now investigating

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said: 'The man entered a shop in Kingsland Road, where he was seen to be trying to swallow an object.

'The officer intervened and sought to prevent the man from harming himself, but he was then taken ill.'

London Ambulance Service attended, and before they arrived first aid was provided by officers, including a police medic.

A spokesman for the IPCC told MailOnline they were investigating the contact between the police officer and the man who died.

CCTV footage from inside the shop and police body worn video has also been gathered and viewed.

They said they were contacted by the Met Police at 2.45am and an independent investigation was launched - less than an hour and a half after police pursued the man. The Directorate of Professional Standards has also been informed.

London Ambulance Service attended, and before they arrived first aid was provided by officers, including a police medic.

Investigators are keen to speak to any witnesses who were in the Kingsland Road/ Middleton Road area of Hackney.

Anyone with information should contact investigators by emailing witness-contact@ipcc.gsi.gov.uk.