Police cleared over death of man detained in Biddulph
An inquest found his death was drug related
An investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct has found that Staffordshire Police officers acted 'appropriately' prior to the death of a man detained in Stoke-on-Trent.
Joshua Cooper died after an incident in the Kingsfield Road area of Biddulph on the evening of 26th March 2025.
An inquest found that Mr Cooper's death was drug-related.
Officers responded to calls on the 26th that Mr Cooper was distressed, knocking on doors and wandering into gardens.
It was believed he was on drugs.
Police responded and found him collapsed on a driveway.
Two officers called an ambulance after putting him in handcuffs and sitting him up against a wheelie bin.
More officers arrived and provided him with a first aid blanket.
They took the handcuffs off him when they saw he was going into seizure.
Paramedics were unable to save him.
IOPC Director Emily Barry said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Cooper’s family and all those affected by his death.
“Our investigation, which ended in August last year, found that the actions of police were in line with policy and were reasonable, necessary and proportionate in what were difficult circumstances.
"Officers called for an ambulance immediately due to the way Mr Cooper was presenting, tried to calm him down while dealing with him in a patient and respectful way, and used appropriate force while applying handcuffs temporarily to prevent any further self-harm.
"Unfortunately, the efforts of the officers and the paramedics who attended were in vain.”