Latest news with #Omishore
BBC News
24-03-2025
- BBC News
Oladeji Omishore: Met PCs cleared of misconduct over man's death
Two Metropolitan Police officers have been cleared of misconduct by the police watchdog after a man was repeatedly Tasered and then fell from Chelsea Bridge and later Omishore, 41, who died on 4 June 2022, had been experiencing a relapse in mental health problems when PC Humphrey Tackie-Yarboi Tasered him five inquest jury at Inner West London Coroners Court could not conclude the actions of officers probably caused his the conclusion of the inquest, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it found no indication officers had behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence. PC Tackie-Yarboi had told the inquest that he believed he was dealing with a terrorist attack, after being told a man was waving a weapon and shouting religious was later discovered that Mr Omishore, who was known as Deji, was carrying a plastic and metal firelighter, not a the hearing the jury was played a series of 999 calls made by members of the public, who reported they had seen a man who may have been carrying a knife or a screwdriver and had been shouting "religious things".Several callers also expressed concern for his mental health, but the court was told that this information was not passed on to PC Tackie-Yarboi and his colleague PC Ben Tugwell who jury found it was possible that the failure to pass on those details to the officers may have had an impact on the sequence of events that contributed to Mr Omishore's concluded the cause of his death was complication arising from Professor Fiona Wilcox said she would issue a prevention of future deaths report raising concerns over Taser training and the failure to communicate the information. 'Disappointing' conclusion Speaking outside the court, Mr Omishore's sister Aisha Omishore said the family were disappointed with the inquest findings."There were serious questions to be answered in this case - concerning how the police deal with people with mental health issues, their training, and the emphasis placed on the use of force including Tasers."None of that, in our view, has been properly explored nor reflected in the conclusion," she Omishore was described in court as a "kind and gentle soul" by his father Alfred, who said his son had recently been reunited with his family after overcoming a drug addiction and undergoing treatment at a psychiatric hospital. IOPC director Amanda Rowe said it had been "a fast-paced and distressing incident for the officers"."Mr Omishore's behaviour was unpredictable and we found that the evidence did not indicate that the decision of one of the officers to Taser him, in order to detain him, was unnecessary or disproportionate in the circumstances," she IOPC said it had separately investigated the officers for failing to cooperate as witnesses, but that this was not serious enough to justify disciplinary proceedings and it would recommend that they face a reflective practice review Met's Ch Supt Christina Jessah said it was "a very sad case" and the officers "had genuine concerns Mr Omishore posed a threat to the safety of those around him".She said the Met would consider the coroner's comments and respond to them in due course.
The Independent
24-03-2025
- The Independent
No misconduct from Met officers in Chelsea Bridge death, watchdog finds
Two Metropolitan Police officers have been cleared of misconduct by the police watchdog after a man died shortly after being tasered and jumping from Chelsea Bridge. Oladeji Omishore, 41, died after a confrontation with the officers on June 4 2022, who had been called when he was seen shouting and holding up a lighter on the west London bridge. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) published its findings of an investigation into Mr Omishore's death on Monday after his inquest had ended. A jury at Inner West London Coroner's Court concluded that Mr Omishore was suffering a mental health relapse, the watchdog said. His cause of death was ruled as due to complications from drowning, with the jury not concluding that the actions of the officers probably caused his death. The IOPC said: 'We found no indication that either officer may have behaved in a manner that would justify disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence relating to their actions at the scene.' Police body-worn video from the day of the incident showed Mr Omishore was tasered three times by one of the officers for a total of eight- and-a-half seconds, for refusing to comply with three separate requests, the IOPC said. Tasers were discharged twice more as Mr Omishore ran towards the bridge barrier and jumped over the bridge railings, but neither had impact. He then jumped over the railing and fell into the River Thames. Mr Omishore died in hospital later that evening after being rescued from the water. Both officers told the IOPC during its investigation that they believed the incident may have been a terrorist attack because it happened during the Queen's Jubilee weekend, which the watchdog found to be 'not unreasonable'. IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: 'Officers are allowed to use force when they honestly believe it is necessary to defend themselves or others. 'This was a fast-paced and distressing incident for the officers and we found the evidence suggested that the officers honestly and reasonably believed Mr Omishore was in possession of a weapon. 'Police have a duty to protect the public from harm and the officers saw several members of the public fleeing the area as they arrived. 'Mr Omishore's behaviour was unpredictable and we found that the evidence did not indicate that the decision of one of the officers to Taser him, in order to detain him, was unnecessary or disproportionate in the circumstances.' There was no evidence Mr Omishore was discriminated against because of his race or mental health as the officers' assessment of the risk posed to the public and themselves appeared to be based on non-discriminatory reasons, the watchdog said. The officers were also separately investigated for failing to co-operate as witnesses, in interviews held on November 23 and 25 2022. While the officers 'had a case to answer' for their behaviour during the interviews, it was not serious enough to justify disciplinary proceedings, the IOPC said. Mr Omishore's family threatened legal action against the IOPC after their initial decision not to hold a criminal or misconduct investigation into his death.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Yahoo
Vulnerable man repeatedly Tasered before fall
A police officer who repeatedly Tasered a man who then died after falling from Chelsea Bridge has told an inquest that he first believed he was dealing with a terror attack. An inquest at Inner West London Coroners Court heard that 41-year-old Oladeji Omishore - who died on 4 June 2022 - was highly vulnerable. The jury previously heard a series of 999 calls from members of the public where they reported that Mr Omishore, known as Deji, may have been armed with a knife, or screwdriver, and some expressed concerns over his mental health. It was later discovered that he had been carrying a plastic and metal firelighter, not a weapon. PC Humphrey Taki-Yarboi told the jury that he had fired his Taser five times, because he believed Mr Omishore presented a risk to the public, to police officers and to himself. He said that he and his colleague PC Ben Tugwell had been the only response team immediately available when the emergency call came over their radio in their car, telling them a man was "shouting religious things" on Chelsea Bridge and was waving a screwdriver. PC Taki-Yarboi told the inquest that, as they approached the bridge, he could see members of the public who "looked scared, they were running away." He said they were pointing towards the bridge, which made him think, "something's going down over there." He said he then saw a man in the middle of the road. "I remember seeing something shiny in his hand. I couldn't see any more. He's waving it around and he's shouting." PC Taki-Yarboi told the inquest that he was aware that that weekend was the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks on London Bridge in July 2017. "The last terror attacks happened on bridges, and it was also the Jubilee weekend," he said. He said he drew his Taser and pointed it as Mr Omishore as he approached him, hoping it would act as a deterrent. Coroner Prof Fiona Wilcox asked PC Taki-Yarboi if he should have waited for back up. "I felt it wasn't right to wait, there were still members of the public and himself at risk," he replied. "I wasn't able to communicate with him, I wasn't able to establish what was going on, he was screaming, shouting, and not engaging." Prof Wilcox asked him at what point he had considered that Mr Omishore might be having a mental health crisis. PC Taki-Yarboi said it was after he discharged his taser for the first time, because Mr Omishore did not comply and was "still active, still strong", which could be associated with ABD, or acute behavioural disturbance. He then fired the Taser two more times while Mr Omishore was on the ground and no longer holding an item in his hand. Mr Omishore then got up and jumped over the barrier towards the River Thames. As he was doing so the officer fired a fourth and fifth Taser cartridge. PC Taki-Yarboi told the jury that even if he had considered or been told that Mr Omishore may have been suffering a mental health crisis, he would have approached the situation in the same way. Nick Armstrong KC, representing Mr Omishore's family, questioned PC Taki-Yarboi over his awareness of the "long standing issue" of how black men were more likely to be treated as aggressive when they are vulnerable. He replied that he was aware of this, telling the inquest: "Before I'm a police officer, I'm a black male." Last week, the jury heard a statement from Mr Omishore's father, Alfred. He said his son had been "a kind and gentle soul" who had become estranged from his family for a long period and been treated in a psychiatric hospital and for a drug addiction. The inquest continues. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Family of man who died after Tasering 'distressed' Tasering man on bridge was excessive, family says Tasered man's family takes legal action against IOPC Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
BBC News
10-03-2025
- BBC News
Police Tasered Oladeji Omishore before Chelsea Bridge fall
A police officer who repeatedly Tasered a man who then died after falling from Chelsea Bridge has told an inquest that he first believed he was dealing with a terror inquest at Inner West London Coroners Court heard that 41-year-old Oladeji Omishore - who died on 4 June 2022 - was highly jury previously heard a series of 999 calls from members of the public where they reported that Mr Omishore, known as Deji, may have been armed with a knife, or screwdriver, and some expressed concerns over his mental was later discovered that he had been carrying a plastic and metal firelighter, not a weapon. PC Humphrey Taki-Yarboi told the jury that he had fired his Taser five times, because he believed Mr Omishore presented a risk to the public, to police officers and to said that he and his colleague PC Ben Tugwell had been the only response team immediately available when the emergency call came over their radio in their car, telling them a man was "shouting religious things" on Chelsea Bridge and was waving a screwdriver. Anniversary of attacks PC Taki-Yarboi told the inquest that, as they approached the bridge, he could see members of the public who "looked scared, they were running away."He said they were pointing towards the bridge, which made him think, "something's going down over there."He said he then saw a man in the middle of the road."I remember seeing something shiny in his hand. I couldn't see any more. He's waving it around and he's shouting."PC Taki-Yarboi told the inquest that he was aware that that weekend was the fifth anniversary of the terror attacks on London Bridge in July 2017."The last terror attacks happened on bridges, and it was also the Jubilee weekend," he said. He said he drew his Taser and pointed it as Mr Omishore as he approached him, hoping it would act as a deterrent. Coroner Prof Fiona Wilcox asked PC Taki-Yarboi if he should have waited for back up."I felt it wasn't right to wait, there were still members of the public and himself at risk," he replied."I wasn't able to communicate with him, I wasn't able to establish what was going on, he was screaming, shouting, and not engaging."Prof Wilcox asked him at what point he had considered that Mr Omishore might be having a mental health Taki-Yarboi said it was after he discharged his taser for the first time, because Mr Omishore did not comply and was "still active, still strong", which could be associated with ABD, or acute behavioural then fired the Taser two more times while Mr Omishore was on the ground and no longer holding an item in his hand. Mr Omishore then got up and jumped over the barrier towards the River Thames. As he was doing so the officer fired a fourth and fifth Taser cartridge. 'Kind and gentle soul' PC Taki-Yarboi told the jury that even if he had considered or been told that Mr Omishore may have been suffering a mental health crisis, he would have approached the situation in the same Armstrong KC, representing Mr Omishore's family, questioned PC Taki-Yarboi over his awareness of the "long standing issue" of how black men were more likely to be treated as aggressive when they are replied that he was aware of this, telling the inquest: "Before I'm a police officer, I'm a black male."Last week, the jury heard a statement from Mr Omishore's father, Alfred. He said his son had been "a kind and gentle soul" who had become estranged from his family for a long period and been treated in a psychiatric hospital and for a drug inquest continues.
The Guardian
03-03-2025
- The Guardian
Man who died in Thames in 2022 shot by police with stun gun, inquest hears
A man who drowned in the Thames was shot three times with a stun gun by police moments before he fell from Chelsea Bridge, an inquest has heard. Police were called to the bridge in west London on 4 June 2022 after numerous reports of a man shouting and waving a screwdriver or knife in the middle of the road. After officers arrived, they used a Taser on Oladeji Omishore, 41, three times. He made his way to the side of the bridge before he fell into the river and died in the Thames. He was later found to be holding a lighter, not a weapon. At the opening of an inquest into his death on Monday, numerous calls to 999 describing Omishore's actions were played. One witness described an 'obviously very, very unwell' man holding a knife or a screwdriver outside Lister hospital, a short distance from the bridge. Other callers made note of his poor mental state. One said: 'He doesn't look like he's in the right frame of made' and another said: 'I don't think he's actually threatening violence, I think he's just ill.' Bodyworn footage showed one officer Tasering Omishore three times in quick succession moments after exiting a police car on the bridge. At first, the officer says: 'Drop the screwdriver or you will be Tasered,' before discharging his stun gun. The footage showed Omishore rolling on the floor and being told to 'stay still' and 'put your hands on the fucking floor' before being Tasered again. After the third time, Omishore ran to the edge of the bridge. One officer continued to point his Taser gun at Omishore while the other managed to get close to him before he appears to jump off of the bridge. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) opened an investigation after his death. The police watchdog expanded their investigation after the Metropolitan police released incorrect information about the incident. Bodyworn footage played on Monday showed an officer picking up a long gas lighter from the ground moments after Omishore fell from the bridge. Statements made by the force on the day of the incident and the day after made no mention of the item recovered being a firelighter rather than a screwdriver. The family of Omishore, who was known to them as Deji, also paid tribute to a 'kind and gentle soul' who 'had his struggles'. In a statement, his father said Deji left home at 19 or 20 and had been in and out of their lives until he was estranged from them for over a decade. In 2021, he said the family's 'years of prayer were finally answered' when Deji's sister reconnected with him online. 'Deji was especially fond of his new niece, whose photo he proudly kept as his phone wallpaper,' said his father. 'One week before his death, on a visit to his flat by his sister and her husband, Oladeji held his baby niece in his arms telling his sister after how he cherished this moment. None of us imagined that it would be his last time holding her.' Omishore had a history of drug addiction but had sought help. He was declared drug free in March 2022 after being successfully dispatched from rehab but a few days before his death, Demi told his sister that he didn't want to see the family and failed to respond to further messages. 'The pain of his loss is indescribable to our family, and the haunting manner of his death is a memory we cannot erase. As a family, we continue to seek justice and answers, knowing that while we cannot bring him back – we can do that,' his father said. The inquest continues.
