A ‘reasonable officer’ facing a man appearing to be high ‘would seek medical attention’, Sheku Bayoh inquiry is told
A "reasonable officer" confronted with a man approaching them with bulging eyes who appeared high would have considered seeking medical treatment, the inquiry into the death of a man who was restrained by police has heard.
Joanne Caffrey, an expert witness on the use of force and police custody, told the Sheku Bayoh inquiry in Edinburgh yesterday that if a hypothetical "reasonable officer" was approached by such a man they would have contacted the control room to alert them to the fact.
Father-of-two Mr Bayoh died after he was detained by six police officers who restrained him on the ground in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on May 3, 2015.
His family believes race played a part in his death.
Pc Craig Walker and Pc Alan Paton were first on the scene after reports from members of the public that T-shirt-wearing Mr Bayoh had been carrying a knife and attacking vehicles.
Previously they told the inquiry that when they arrived at Hayfield Road they rapidly deployed their incapacitant sprays on the gas engineer after he failed to listen to their instructions, and Pc Paton said that when he arrived he thought Mr Bayoh was "clearly in some sort of rage or zombie state".
Angela Grahame KC, the inquiry's senior counsel, put a scenario to Ms Caffrey of a man wearing a T-shirt in freezing weather, walking briskly with "eyes bulging out of his head", who had no visible knife, already walking towards a police van when they arrived, who one officer became aware was "high on something".
Asked what level of response a "reasonable officer" would consider appropriate, Ms Caffrey said: "I think that they would be thinking about that, is this a person who's under the influence of intoxication and or mental illness, and I need to get them medical attention.
"So: 'Control, we need an ambulance', 'Hey guy, I want to help you, how can I help you' and look at that initial engagement as to can you get a rapport with the person and stress to them we're here to help, but still keeping all the distance because you don't know whether there's a weapon involved or not."
The inquiry continues today when Ms Caffrey is set to continue her evidence.