Investigation launched after man dies in police custody in Oldbury
A 59-year-old man has died in the cells of Oldbury custody suite today (Friday).
The Independent Office for Police Conduct are carrying out an independent investigation following the death in West Midlands Police's Oldbury custody suite.
A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "A 59-year-old man from the Sandwell area, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday morning for harassment and taken to our Oldbury custody suite. He was assessed by healthcare professionals while in custody and was subsequently charged and remanded to appear before the courts.
"At around 9am today, the man was found to be unresponsive, custody staff began CPR in a bid to save his life, before paramedics attended and took the man to hospital where he died a short time later."
The IOPC automatically launch an investigation into any death in police custody.
The police spokesman added: "The man’s family has been informed as well as the local coroner. The death in police custody has been referred to the IOPC and we will support their investigation."
The Oldbury police custody suite, also known as the Western Custody Suite, opened on March, 2016 and has 60 cells. Those arrested in the Black Country are automatically taken to Oldbury.
