Independent Police Complaints Commission
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North Wales Police actions reasonable and proportionate on evening of Morgan Owen death and in responding to earlier incidents
A mandatory Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation has found that the actions of North Wales Police officers on the evening of Morgan Owen's death in Buckley on 5 December 2011, and in responding to four earlier incidents, were reasonable and proportionate.
From 21 November 2011 to the evening of his death, Mr Owen had five interactions with police. In two incidents police arrested Mr Owen after being called to reports of him behaving erratically. Officers had to physically restrain him both times, on the second occasion by deploying incapacitant spray and a Taser.
Mr Owen was in the process of pursuing complaints over injuries sustained during his first arrest, his treatment in custody, and about the actions of an officer who had visited his mother's address to see him.
On 5 December 2011 North Wales Police were called by a number of residents of Farm Road, Buckley, about a man shouting in the street and causing a disturbance. Mr Owen had collapsed when police arrived and resuscitation was attempted, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
At an inquest before HM Coroner in Abergele, a jury returned a conclusion of accident with narrative on Friday 23 October.
A post mortem examination carried out on behalf of HM Coroner gave cause of death as cocaine toxicity.
The IPCC investigation examined the police response to each of the five incidents. Accounts were obtained from police officers, some family members, paramedics and independent witnesses. Where available CCTV evidence was viewed, and relevant force policies considered. The investigation also looked at a number of complaints from Mr Owen's family about the police handling of the incidents.
The investigation found that where police used force, including deploying Taser when responding to Mr Owen's erratic behaviour on 3 December 2011, it was necessary and appropriate. Police had taken steps to assist Mr Owen's welfare and to protect others, and did do what they could along with a member of the public to resuscitate Mr Owen, prior to the arrival of paramedics, on 5 December 2011.
IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said: "Ultimately this was a very sad series of incidents. These events have been clearly upsetting for Morgan's family, friends close to Morgan, and also the officers involved with very difficult circumstances. Our investigation found that North Wales Police officers did act in a proportionate and reasonable way in their interactions with Morgan."
