Devon and Cornwall Police charged over Thomas Orchard death
Written by News on 25/04/2018
Devon and Cornwall Police has been charged over the death of a church caretaker with mental health issues who had been arrested a week earlier.
Thomas Orchard, 32, who had schizophrenia, suffered a cardiac arrest at Heavitree Police Station in Exeter after being restrained in 2012.
He died a week later in hospital.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated the circumstances surrounding the death and sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
The CPS has now charged the Office of the Chief Constable with one count of exposing non-employees, namely Mr Orchard, to a risk to his health or safety under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, a spokesman said.
Mr Orchard had been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence, after shouting at and threatening members of the public in Exeter city centre.
As he was dealt with by seven police officers, he was held down and handcuffed, while a large webbing belt called an Emergency Response Belt (ERB) was placed across his face.
He was taken to a locked cell, where he lay apparently motionless for 12 minutes before custody staff re-entered and administered CPR.
Mr Orchard, who worked as a cleaner at his local church, was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 19.
He had been sectioned five times and, in the month leading up to his death, he had suffered a relapse.
Helen Stone of Hickman and Rose, representing Mr Orchard’s family, said the family were “pleased” with the decision.
Chief Constable Shaun Sawyer said: “Any decision to pursue criminal charges against the Force is… of grave concern and we take the CPS’ decision to charge a Health and Safety offence very seriously.
“We will now take time to consider that decision in detail.
“We continue to support our staff following this decision, but the effect this has had on the Orchard family and our staff since October 2012 cannot, and should not, be underestimated”.
(c) Sky News 2018: Devon and Cornwall Police charged over Thomas Orchard death
