October 09, 2020
The use of restraint by police on a Black man with paranoid schizophrenia was “inappropriate” and contributed to his death in custody, an inquest jury has found.
Police Restraint Of Black Man Kevin Clarke Contributed To His Death In Custody, Inquest Finds
Kevin Clarke died at Lewisham Hospital in 2018 following an incident in the Polsted Road area of Catford, south-east London.
An inquest at Southwark Coroner’s Court heard that the 35-year-old told officers “I’m going to die” as he was put into handcuffs, due to his size, but was “ignored” and then lost consciousness as he was taken to an ambulance.
Returning a narrative conclusion on Friday after five days of deliberations, an inquest jury concluded that the decision to use restraint on Clarke “probably more than minimally or trivially” contributed to his death, adding it was inappropriate as it was not considered in view of the risk to the police and the public.
Jurors said: “It is highly likely that at least one officer heard Mr Clarke say: ‘I can’t breathe’, on one of the occasions he repeated it.
“Despite this, no action was taken other than one officer saying: ‘You’ve got to breathe, you’ve got to breathe, breathe, deep breaths’.
“Failure to remove restraints at this point was contrary to guidance and training.”Clarke had been living at the Jigsaw Project, a residential support service, for about two years up until his death in hospital on March 9 2018.
He had been seen by officers earlier that day, but was not sectioned despite concerns from staff at Jigsaw.
Police were called again later in the day and Clarke was found lying on the ground at the edge of a school playing field.
An ambulance was called after the situation was deemed “a medical emergency”, and Clarke was placed in two sets of handcuffs – linked together due to his size – along with leg restraints.
Pc Lee Pidgeon, who was one of several officers at the scene, told the inquest Clarke had begun to get “a bit fidgety” and the use of handcuffs to restrain him was appropriate as he was showing signs of acute behavioural disorder.
In body-worn camera footage, Clarke could be heard groaning, saying “I can’t breathe” and “I’m going to die”.
When asked by coroner Andrew Harris why Clarke was “ignored” by the officers in attendance, Pc Pidgeon replied: “I cannot answer that, sir, I don’t know.”
The London Ambulance Service (LAS) has already admitted its crew failed to conduct a “complete clinical assessment” of Clarke on arrival.
This amounted to a “failure to provide basic medical care”, which an inquest jury said possibly contributed to his death.
The cause of his death was given as “acute behavioural disturbance, in a relapse of schizophrenia, leading to exhaustion and cardiac arrest, contributed to by restraint, struggle and being walked”.
Leslie Thomas, family counsel, said it was “blatantly apparent” Clarke was having difficulty breathing and the force used by police was “completely disproportionate”.
He said the way officers moved Clarke put him at risk, adding: “(An officer) keeps his head down and his torso is bent forward.
“You ran the risk that Kevin’s breathing was being compromised.”
Pc John Buckingham said Clarke was placed in limb restraints “so that he wouldn’t further hurt himself, myself or my colleagues in the immediate area”.
Paying tribute to her first-born child, Wendy Clarke described Clarke as a “friendly, gentle giant” and said he had once told her: “I’m a lover, not a fighter”.
She added: “Kevin had told me that he feared the police because they had in the past mistreated and Tasered him.”Related... Wake Up To How You're Treating Black Men, Top Custody Deaths Lawyer Urges Police Kevin Clarke: London Mural Unveiled Commemorating Black Man Who Died In Police Custody Anti-Racist Mural In London Is Latest To Be Targeted Following Black Lives Matter Protests Kentucky Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor Charged With Wanton Endangerment
Related Stories
Latest News
Top news around the world
Academy Awards

‘Oppenheimer’ Reigns at Oscars With Seven Wins, Including Best Picture and Director

Get the latest news about the 2024 Oscars, including nominations, winners, predictions and red carpet fashion at 96th Academy Awards

Around the World

Politic
Mary Trump 'energized' as uncle 'Donald's campaign spirals into chaos'
Mar 29, 2024
Donald Trump's campaign is in chaos, and his niece says she's energized.Mary Trump, the niece of the former president and a psychologist by trade, has previously been critical of her uncle.On Thursday, she said her uncle's failures are adding up.ALSO READ: A neuroscientist reveals how Trump and Biden's cognitive impairments are different"As the RNC’s fundraising falters and Donald’s campaign spirals into chaos, I am energized!" she said in a Substack post.She then continued:"When Donald dominates the news cycle, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed. Every bad headline has a negative impact. But then I remember something crucial: There’s usually more to the story than meets the eye. I’m determined to cut through the media noise and share with you all the good that happened this week. These are the headlines we need to remain energized and hopeful that the media largely ignored."Mary Trump goes on to highlight President Joe Biden's recent fundraising hauls."President Biden’s $155 million+ war chest has just received another turbo boost, bringing the total of cash on hand to at least $180 million. (By comparison, between his campaign and the RNC, Donald barely has over $50 million — and continues to drain the accounts to cover his absolutely staggering legal expenses)," she wrote. "This is a development that could significantly increase Biden’s ability to influence the narrative in crucial swing states."This, she says, also tells us a lot about voter excitement for Biden."While critics have expressed doubts about the degree to which the Democratic base is fired up as compared to 2020, today’s $25 million fundraiser, raised with donations ranging from $250 to $500,000, should put any doubts to rest — yes, we are absolutely behind President Biden and Vice President Harris and we’re in this fight until the end," she wrote.Read the full post here.
READ MORE
Celebrity News

> Latest News in Media

Watch It
Ruby Franke’s Husband REVEALS Alleged Rules He Had to Follow at Home | E! News
March 28, 2024
_mU-3lE2QwI
#KenanThompson speaks out following the #QuietonSet documentary. (🎥: Tamron Hall Show) #shorts
March 28, 2024
8AGP-Gfw_Ek
King Charles Shares "Great Sadness" at Missing Royal Appearance | E! News
March 28, 2024
lyizFqf1kQY
Martha Reeves Walk of Fame Ceremony
March 27, 2024
QzyezumEPtQ
Eminem, 50 Cent & Snoop Dogg Present Dr. Dre with a Star on the Walk of Fame
March 19, 2024
4bNLs1hxVp8
Opening Remarks for the Variety Summit October 20th, 2023 Jay Penske
March 18, 2024
c6Z707iLq8E
Montell Jordan Dishes On Young MC Wedding, 'This Is How Date Night' Plans | TMZ
March 28, 2024
G3SMExj-qio
Davina Potratz Says TV Not Helping 'Selling Sunset' Relationship Woes | TMZ
March 28, 2024
D4piy4GNm4k
Logan Paul Rips Graham Bensinger Over Documentary, You Promised Apple TV+ | TMZ Live
March 28, 2024
NiSDpZhZklQ
Prince William pinned royal medal to Spice Girl Mel B’s boobs #shorts
March 28, 2024
O1cQ0UW9pco
Jennifer Garner shares ‘hard’ part of raising her and Ben Affleck’s kids
March 28, 2024
3Q7mZaVUdgc
50 Cent's ex Daphne Joy named as an alleged sex worker in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs lawsuit #shorts
March 28, 2024
yhLFI8DG9rM
TV Schedule
Late Night Show
Watch the latest shows of U.S. top comedians

Sports

Latest sport results, news, videos, interviews and comments
Latest Events
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
PSG W - Hacken W
28
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Barcelona W - SK Brann W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Chelsea W - Ajax W
27
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: Playoffs - Women
Lyon W - SL Benfica W
17
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Atletico Madrid - Barcelona
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester United - Liverpool
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Inter Milan - Napoli
17
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Borussia Dortmund - Eintracht Frankfurt
17
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Chelsea - Leicester City
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Roma - Sassuolo
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Verona - AC Milan
17
Mar
ITALY: Serie A
Juventus - Genoa
16
Mar
GERMANY: Bundesliga
Darmstadt - Bayern Munich
16
Mar
ENGLAND: FA Cup
Manchester City - Newcastle United
16
Mar
ENGLAND: Premier League
Fulham - Tottenham Hotspur
16
Mar
SPAIN: La Liga
Osasuna - Real Madrid
13
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Atletico Madrid - Inter Milan
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Barcelona - Napoli
12
Mar
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: 1/8 Final
Arsenal - Porto
Find us on Instagram
at @feedimo to stay up to date with the latest.
Featured Video You Might Like
zWJ3MxW_HWA L1eLanNeZKg i1XRgbyUtOo -g9Qziqbif8 0vmRhiLHE2U JFCZUoa6MYE UfN5PCF5EUo 2PV55f3-UAg W3y9zuI_F64 -7qCxIccihU pQ9gcOoH9R8 g5MRDEXRk4k
Copyright © 2020 Feedimo. All Rights Reserved.