Rashan Charles swallowed ‘harmless’ wrap

 A man who died following a struggle with a police officer in an east London shop had swallowed a wrap of paracetamol and caffeine, the police watchdog has said.

Father-of-one Rashan Charles, 20, was chased by police into a shop in Dalston on July 22 but collapsed and died. His death sparked violent clashes a week later when protesters marched on Stoke Newington police station.

Yesterday the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed an object found in Charles’ airways was not controlled drugs.

The watchdog said the wrap was made of harmless substances wrapped in plastic. The mixture is often passed off to unsuspecting drug buyers in street deals.

IPCC commissioner Cindy Butts said: “The IPCC is independently scrutinising all the evidence, in order to provide answers for Rashan’s family, friends and the wider public. Given the inflammatory nature of some ongoing speculation, I will confirm that the package consisted of a mixture of paracetamol and caffeine wrapped in plastic. At this stage we have not been provided with a confirmed cause of death for Rashan, and our investigation is ongoing.

“Rashan’s family have appealed for calm, while we undertake our important work. I would echo their appeal.”