Police under investigation after man dies in River Lea following chase
IOPC reviewing actions and circumstances in Hertfordshire after Myley French dies
An investigation is underway by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man who entered the River Lea in Hertfordshire after an interaction with police.
Myley French, 20, was stopped by Hertfordshire Constabulary officers in Stanstead Abbots on 14th September, as he was wanted for failing to appear for bail.
He briefly spoke to the officers before fleeing and ultimately ending up in the river.
Body-worn video footage shows that the officers gave chase but quickly lost sight of Mr French after he climbed over a fence.
A passerby alerted officers that a person was in the water, and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene, where Mr French was pronounced deceased following a river search.
Following a post-mortem on 22nd September, the final cause of death is still pending, and an inquest has yet to be opened.
The IOPC is reviewing CCTV, officer statements, police radio transmissions, and witness accounts from those who saw Mr French in the river.
Emily Barry, IOPC director of engagement, expressed condolences to Mr French's family and emphasised the need for an independent inquiry due to the police interaction preceding his death.
The investigation was declared independent on 16th September, with investigators visiting the scene and the post-incident procedure for gathering information.