Death of Rashan Charles

On 22 July 2017, Rashan Charles, a 20-year-old Black British man died following contact with an officer from the Metropolitan Police in Dalston. Charles died after a police officer tried to recover an object Charles was reported to have swallowed.[1]

The incident was the second death of a young black man in London following police contact in just over a month.[2]

Background

The Metropolitan Police stated the incident took place after a vehicle stop in Kingsland Road, Dalston at 1:45 am on Saturday 22 July 2017.[3] Charles fled the vehicle and was pursued by police into a shop, where he allegedly tried to swallow an object. The officer threw Charles to the ground, held him down by the neck, and tried to reach inside Charles' mouth. Charles subsequently "became ill" and was taken to Royal London Hospital where he died. The object Charles tried to swallow was reportedly recovered at the scene.[1][4]

Response

The video of Charles' contact with the police was widely shared on social media platforms.[5] The National Union of Students Black Students' Campaign tweeted that Charles had been "murdered" by the Metropolitan Police.[6][7]

Pauline Pearce, a local politician and activist who was known for berating looters during the 2011 London riots[8], described Charles as "a darling".[9]

Friends and family of Charles called for action to be taken against the officer involved, suggesting protests could take place otherwise. A friend of Charles told The Independent "Rash was unarmed and he was not resisting arrest...I just don't understand the whole taking him down to the ground and choking him and handcuffing him" and accused police of abusing their authority. The Independent reported that "community anger over his death could spill over into violence".[2]

Protests

More than 300 protesters attended a demonstration organised by Hackney Stand Up to Racism and Fascism on Monday 24 July. The group stated they were "enormously concerned and angered" by Charles' death and cited both the Death of Edson Da Costa and of Rashan Charles as examples of "seemingly endless list of young black men dying at the hands of the authorities".[10] The protest, a march from the shop where the altercation took place to Stoke Newington police station was described as mostly peaceful but several masked activists chanted "murderers" at police and hurled broken bottles.[11][12]

More protests were held in Dalston and Hackney on Friday 28 July 2017.[13][14]

Investigation

An investigation was launched by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). The IPCC claimed it had evidence which suggested Charles had attempted to swallow an object recovered at the scene. It was subsequently revealed that the item Charles attempted to swallow contained a mixture of Caffeine and Paracetamol (acetaminophen) wrapped in plastic. Neither drug is a controlled substance.[15][16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "CCTV emerges of Rashan Charles being thrown to ground by police in London shop before he died". Independent.co.uk. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Rashan Charles' family and friends are demanding justice amid fears anger could spill over". Independent.co.uk. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Statement following death of man in Hackney". News.met.police. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  4. ↑ "Everything We Know About What Happened To Rashan Charles, Who Died After Being Chased By The Police". The Irish News. July 24, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Man dies after being chased by police and apprehended in shop". Independent.co.uk. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  6. ↑ "Rashan Charles - Murdered in Dalston yesterday by the Metropolitan Police. We stand with Rash's family". Twitter. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  7. ↑ Gerretsen, Isabelle (23 July 2017). "Rashan Charles: 20-year-old restrained by police dies in London shop after 'swallowing an object'". Intimes.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  8. ↑ assistant, Felicity A. Morse Editorial; UK, HuffPost (4 August 2012). "The Hackney Heroine: 'Nothing's Changed'". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  9. ↑ "Friends pay emotional tribute to 'gentle and caring' Rashan Charles, who died after being arrested by police in Hackney". Independent.co.uk. 23 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  10. ↑ "Anger grows over young dad's police chase death". News.sky.com. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  11. ↑ "Rashan Charles' dad demands peace as protesters hurl bottles at police". Standard.co.uk. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Bartholomew, Emma. "Rashan Charles: Furious protesters march on Stoke Newington police station demanding justice for 20-year-old’s death". Hackneygazette.co.uk. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  13. ↑ Wyatt, Timothy (28 July 2017). "Demonstrators block Dalston road in violent protest at Rashan Charles death". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  14. ↑ "Rashan Charles death: Protesters throw fireworks at police". BBC News. 29 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  15. ↑ https://www.hackneycitizen.co.uk/2017/08/03/rashan-charles-swallowed-object-not-controlled-substance/
  16. ↑ Kentish, Ben (August 3, 2017). "Package Swallowed By Rashan Charles Contained 'Mixture Of Paracetamol And Caffeine Wrapped In Plastic'". The Independant.
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